Gene GRIN3A
Back to Curriculum
Also known as
GluN3A, NMDAR-L, NMDAR3A, NR3AOverview
GRIN3A (glutamate receptor, ionotropic, N-methyl-D-aspartate 3A) is a gene that codes for the NMDA type of ionotropic glutamate receptor 3A (GRIN3A), also known as GluN3A. This gene is part of a family of ionotropic glutamate receptors, which are responsible for the majority of fast synaptic excitation in the brain. These receptors play a key role in the regulation of the central nervous system by modulating the flow of ions, particularly calcium, across the cell membrane in response to the neurotransmitter glutamate.
The NMDA receptors, of which GRIN3A is a member, are activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is involved in many important brain functions such as memory, learning, and synaptic plasticity. NMDA receptors are unique among the three main types of glutamate receptors in that they are blocked by the neurotransmitter glycine and are also sensitive to changes in the levels of magnesium ions in the vicinity of the receptor.
Studies have suggested that variations in the GRIN3A gene may be associated with an increased risk of certain neurological and psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder. The GRIN3A gene has also been linked to the development of certain neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease, as well as addiction and alcoholism.