Glutamate [NMDA] receptor subunit epsilon-2 also known as N-methyl D-aspartate receptor subtype 2B (NMDAR2B or NR2B) is a protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 that in humans is encoded by the GRIN2B gene

Gene

A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

.

Function

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA

NMDA receptor

The NMDA receptor , a glutamate receptor, is the predominant molecular device for controlling synaptic plasticity and memory function....

) receptors are a class of ionotropic glutamate receptors. NMDA receptor channel has been shown to be involved in long-term potentiation

Long-term potentiation

In neuroscience, long-term potentiation is a long-lasting enhancement in signal transmission between two neurons that results from stimulating them synchronously. It is one of several phenomena underlying synaptic plasticity, the ability of chemical synapses to change their strength...

, an activity-dependent increase in the efficiency of synaptic transmission thought to underlie certain kinds of memory and learning. NMDA receptor channels are heteromers composed of the key receptor subunit NMDAR1 (GRIN1

GRIN1

Glutamate [NMDA] receptor subunit zeta-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GRIN1 gene.-Further reading:...

) and 1 or more of the 4 NMDAR2 subunits: NMDAR2A (GRIN2A

GRIN2A

Glutamate [NMDA] receptor subunit epsilon-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GRIN2A gene.-Interactions:GRIN2A has been shown to interact with FYN, DLG4, DLG3, DLG1, Src, PTK2B and Interleukin 16.-Further reading:...

), NMDAR2B (GRIN2B), NMDAR2C (GRIN2C

GRIN2C

Glutamate [NMDA] receptor subunit epsilon-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GRIN2C gene.-Interactions:GRIN2C has been shown to interact with DLG4 and DLG3....

), and NMDAR2D (GRIN2D

GRIN2D

Glutamate [NMDA] receptor subunit epsilon-4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GRIN2D gene.-Interactions:GRIN2D has been shown to interact with Interleukin 16....

). he NR2 subunit acts as the agonist binding site for glutamate

Glutamic acid

Glutamic acid is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids, and its codons are GAA and GAG. It is a non-essential amino acid. The carboxylate anions and salts of glutamic acid are known as glutamates...

. This receptor is the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter receptor in the mammalian brain.

Ligands

• Besonprodil
  Besonprodil
  Besonprodil is a drug which acts as an NMDA antagonist, selective for the NR2B subunit. It is under development as a supplemental medication for Parkinson's disease, and has been shown in animals to be effective in counteracting the dyskinesias associated with long term treatment with levodopa and...
  
  
• Eliprodil
  Eliprodil
  Eliprodil is a drug which acts as an NMDA antagonist, binding to the polyamine modulatory site. It has neuroprotective and anticonvulsant effects in animal studies, but does not support self administration or substitute for phencyclidine, and does not produce sedation or amnesia...
  
  
• Evt 101, a selctive NR2B receptor antagonist, is being tested as a potentially fast acting antidepressant.

Interactions

GRIN2B has been shown to interact

Protein-protein interaction

Protein–protein interactions occur when two or more proteins bind together, often to carry out their biological function. Many of the most important molecular processes in the cell such as DNA replication are carried out by large molecular machines that are built from a large number of protein...

 with LIN7B

LIN7B

Lin-7 homolog B is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LIN7B gene.-Interactions:LIN7B has been shown to interact with KCNJ4, GRIN2B, KCNJ12 and ACCN3.-Further reading:...

, DLG4

DLG4

PSD-95 also known as SAP-90 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DLG4 gene....

, DLG2

DLG2

Disks large homolog 2 also known as channel-associated protein of synapse-110 or postsynaptic density protein 93 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DLG2 gene.- Function :...

, DLG3

DLG3

Disks large homolog 3 also known as neuroendocrine-DLG or synapse-associated protein 102 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DLG3 gene...

, EXOC4

EXOC4

Exocyst complex component 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EXOC4 gene.-Interactions:EXOC4 has been shown to interact with DLG4, EXOC7, GRIN2B, EXOC3 and DLG3.-Further reading:...

, RICS

RICS (gene)

Rho GTPase-activating protein 32 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RICS gene. RICS has two known isoforms, RICS that are expressed primarily at neurite growth cones, and at the post synaptic membranes, and PX-RICS which is more widely expressed in the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi...

 and Actinin, alpha 2

Actinin, alpha 2

Actinin, alpha 2, also known as ACTN2, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the ACTN2 gene.- Function :Alpha actinins belong to the spectrin gene superfamily which represents a diverse group of cytoskeletal proteins, including the alpha and beta spectrins and dystrophins. Alpha actinin is an...

.

Further reading