glutamatergic signalling

glutamate

most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system

glutamate receptors

AMPA receptors, NMDA receptors, kainate receptors, metabotropic glutamate receptors

glutaminase

enzyme that converts glutamine to glutamate

dendritic spines

small membrane protrusions that are major sites of glutamatergic synapses

ampa receptors

glutamate-gated tetrameric complexes mostly permeable to Na+ and K+, rarely permeable to Ca2+ (juvenile state)

NMDA receptors

glutamate-gated with co-agonist glycine, tetrameric complexes containing two obligatory GluN1 subunits, predominantly permeable to Na+, Ca2+ and K+ that are blocked by magnesium at rest

long term potentiation

persistent strengthening of synsapses in response to specific input due to insertion of new AMPA receptors in the membrane

excitotoxicity

excessive activation of glutamate receptors can lead to activation of signalling cascades that promote cell death. this is driven by excessive calcium-mediated signalling

excitotoxicity in neurodegenerative disease

in ALS, excitotoxicity is thought to be linked to motor neuron death