# Agonist induced conformational changes in the NMDA receptor

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · 2020 · $32,518

## Abstract

Abstract:
NMDA receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that play a critical role in the function of the central nervous
system and are involved in processes such as synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. In addition to their
physiological functions, NMDARs are also implicated in a number of neurological diseases and conditions,
including ischemic stroke and epilepsy. The diverse roles that NMDA receptors fill make it critical that the
function and regulation of these receptors are fully understood. The recent structures have provided insight into
the architecture and end state structures of NMDA receptors providing a rich foundation for structure- dynamic
investigation of the receptor which will allow for detailed investigations of all the conformational states that the
protein explores. This is required as there are still several unanswered questions such as mechanism
underlying partial agonism as well as mechanism of allosteric communication between the glutamate and
glycine binding. Single molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET) method is ideally suited for
such investigations as it allows for the characterization of all the states that the proteins probes and dynamics
of transitions between the states, which then can be correlated to the extensive functional information available
for the receptor. The research proposed herein seeks to fill these important gaps in knowledge through two
aims: to Determine the mechanism of partial agonism in the NMDA receptor and to Study the allosteric
communication between the glutamate- and glycine-binding subunits of the NMDA receptor. The research
proposed will provide a significant step forward in the understanding of the function and regulation of the
NMDA receptor. This research pursuit, therefore, is in keeping with the stated mission of the NIGMS to support
“basic research that increases understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in
disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention”.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10001582
- **Project number:** 5F31GM130035-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Ryan James Durham
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $32,518
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10001582

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10001582, Agonist induced conformational changes in the NMDA receptor (5F31GM130035-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10001582. Licensed CC0.

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