生后发育过程中大鼠下丘脑NMDA受体各亚单位mRNA基因表达

中枢NMDA受体通道具有一种独特的门控方式,既受配基门控又受电压门控,而这种独特的门控通道又必须由各种亚单位形成的多样化的异寡聚体才具有一定的活性和功能.从胚胎形成到生后发育,中枢NMDA受体各亚单位及其所组成的异寡聚体具有各自不同的时空特性,其功能以及药理学特性也随发育过程而变化.本研究应用RT-PCR技术,研究在生后发育过程中听觉中枢神经系统下丘NMDA受体NR1、NR2A、NR2B和NR2CmRNA基因的表达,以期为在分子水平上揭示其在生后发育过程中的规律.     

NMDA受体亚单位NR2B的结构、功能特性及其表达与调控

NMDA受体是兴奋性氨基酸谷氨酸(Glu)的特异性受体,属配体门控离子通道,是由不同的亚单位组成.现已发现,NMDA受体至少存在7个亚单位(NR1,NR2A-D,NR3A-B),其中NR2B在7个亚单位中扮演非常重要的角色.近年来对NR2B研究表明,其在调控神经元突触的可塑性、学习与记忆以及治疗精神紊乱方面具有重要的意义.对近期有关NR2B亚单位的结构、功能特性及其表达与调控的研究进展做一综述.     

雌激素快速影响大鼠发育期海马NMDA受体活性的机制

为了探讨雌激素对发育期大鼠海马NMDA受体活性的快速影响,对出生后18d的雄性大鼠进行苯甲酸雌二醇皮下注射,1h后用WesternBlot检测海马NMDA受体NR1和NR2B亚基、雌激素β受体、ERK1/2蛋白的表达,以及NR2B和ERK1/2的磷酸化水平;并通过海马内给予雌激素受体拮抗剂ICI182,780和MEK1/2抑制剂U0126预处理,进一步分析苯甲酸雌二醇影响NR2B和ERK1/2磷酸化的作用机制。结果显示,苯甲酸雌二醇不影响NR1、NR2B、ERβ和ERK1/2的表达,但能快速增强NR2B和ERK1/2的磷酸化水平。雌激素受体拮抗剂ICI182,780和MEK1/2抑制剂U0126均能明显抑制苯甲酸雌二醇诱导的NR2B和ERK1/2磷酸化水平的增加。以上结果提示,雌激素可能通过雌激素受体的非基因组机制激活ERK/MAPK信号转导通路,快速诱导NMDA受体NR2B亚基磷酸化,激活NMDA受体。     

M受体对吗啡戒断大鼠脊髓和脑干NMDA受体基因表达及中脑导水管周围灰质中谷氨酸释放的调节

应用鞘内注射反义寡脱氧核苷酸技术和RT—PCR反应,观察毒蕈碱型乙酰胆碱受体(muscarinic acetylcholine receptor,M)对吗啡依赖大鼠脊髓和脑干NMDA受体NR1A和NR2A mRNA表达和中脑导水管周围灰质区(periaqueductal grey,PAG)中谷氨酸释放的影响。结果显示,吗啡依赖大鼠脊髓NR1A和NR2A mRNA表达明显升高,而脑干中NR1A和NR2A mRNA表达没有显著变化;注射纳洛酮后1h,吗啡戒断大鼠脊髓和脑干中NR1A和NR2A表达显著高于依赖组,经NMDA受体拮抗剂MK801(0．125mg／kg,i．p．)、M受体拮抗剂东莨菪碱(0．5mg／kg,i．p．)、M1受体拮抗剂呱伦西平(10mg/kg,i．p．)和NOS抑制剂L-NAME(10mg／kg,i．p．)处理后,脊髓和脑干中NR1A和NR2A基因表达都较戒断组明显减少。在纳洛酮激发前24h鞘内注射NR1A和M2受体的反义寡脱氧核苷酸(4μg／只),戒断症状评分值及脊髓和脑干的NR1A mRNA的表达均较对照组明显减少。吗啡依赖大鼠在纳洛酮注射前24h鞘内注射M2受体反义寡脱氧核苷酸(4μg/只),可以明显减少PAG内透析液中谷氨酸含量。上述结果提示：NMDA受体的基因表达和谷氨酸释放参与吗啡戒断过程,而这种表达受到M受体的调节。     

NMDA受体在焦虑症发病机制的研究进展

伴随社会生活和工作压力的增大,常见精神类疾病焦虑症的发病率逐年攀升。焦虑症的发病机制非常复杂,迄今尚未完全阐明。本文概述了焦虑症发病机制与NMDA受体不同亚型的关系。NMDA受体主要广泛分布于脑、脊髓和周围神经系统。NR1广泛分布于中枢神经,在NR2D亚基敲除小鼠中,NR1和NR2D的相互影响可能参与了焦虑样行为。NR2A与NR2B是NMDA受体的两个重要亚基,NR2B的高选择性拮抗剂艾芬地尔在小鼠的高架十字迷宫实验中发挥了抗焦虑功效。将小鼠全脑的NR2C基因用NR2B替代之后,1月龄变异小鼠的高架十字迷宫实验显示有明显的非条件性焦虑行为,表明NR2B和NR2C均可能参与焦虑的发生。因此,深入阐明调控NMDA受体亚基组成的确切作用机制,将有助于探索焦虑症潜在治疗靶点的发现,并针对性地开展新药的研发。     

生后早期听觉剥夺、经验改变大鼠听皮层NMDA受体NR2B蛋白表达

应用蛋白质印迹检测技术,研究早期听觉剥夺、经验对大鼠听皮层NMDA受体NR2B蛋白表达的影响.结果表明,听觉剥夺使生后14天龄组和28天龄组动物听皮层NR2B蛋白表达水平明显下降(P<0.05,P<0.01),听觉剥夺7天后再给予纯音暴露则又使NR2B表达水平明显提高(P<0.05),呈现双向调节趋势.听觉剥夺和纯音暴露对生后42天龄组大鼠听皮层NR2B表达不再产生明显调节作用(P>0.05).结果提示,在大鼠生后发育关键期,听觉剥夺、经验可改变听皮层NMDA受体NR2B蛋白表达水平.研究结果为研究感觉功能发育可塑性的机制提供了重要实验资料.     

水杨酸钠对大鼠耳蜗螺旋神经节神经元的毒性研究:多巴胺受体介导NMDA受体与GABA_A受体的表达

本研究旨在观察多巴胺受体(dopamine receptor,DR)是否参与水杨酸钠(sodium salicylate,SS)对大鼠耳蜗螺旋神经节神经元(spiral ganglion neuron,SGN)N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体(N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor,NMDAR)和A型γ-氨基丁酸受体(γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor,GABA_AR)亚单位蛋白表达的作用。原代培养大鼠SGN,用免疫荧光技术检测SGN上第一家族多巴胺受体(DR1)和第二家族多巴胺受体(DR2)的表达;分别用5 mmol/L SS、SS+DR1拮抗剂(SCH23390,20μmol/L)和SS+DR2拮抗剂(Eticlopride,20μmol/L)处理SGN后,用Western blot检测NMDA受体NR1亚单位、GABA_A受体α2亚单位(GABA_A receptor subunitα2,GABRα2)蛋白的表达。结果显示,SGN的胞体与突起均有DR1、DR2表达;SS可下调GABRα2和NR1的膜蛋白表达,但不影响二者的总蛋白表达;SCH23390和Eticlopride均能逆转SS对GABRα2和NR1膜蛋白表达的下调作用。以上结果提示,SS可影响SGN表面GABA_AR和NMDAR的转运,其作用机制涉及DR的介导作用。     

Nω-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯抑制吗啡镇痛耐受大鼠中脑和脊髓一氧化氮合酶/N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体表达上调

采用热甩尾测痛法观察全身应用非特异性一氧化氮合酶（nitric oxide synthase,NOS）抑制剂——N^ω-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯（L-NAME）对吗啡镇痛耐受形成的影响,并通过观察脊髓和中脑神经元型NOS（nNOS）和N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸（NMDA）受体亚单位表达的变化来阐释NO／NMDA受体在吗啡镇痛耐受形成中的作用。将36只健康成年Sprague-Dawley大鼠平均分为6组（每组6只）：1组为对照组,皮下注射生理盐水1ml;2、3、4、5和6组为处理组,分别皮下注射L-NAME10mg／kg、L-NAME20mg／kg、吗啡10mg／kg、L-NAME10mg／kg＋吗啡10mg／kg、L-NAME20mg／kg＋吗啡10mg／kg,每天2次。在注射前测量大鼠的热甩尾潜伏期（tail-flick latency,TFL）基础值,随后每天第一次给药50min后测量其TFL。第8天最后一次给药80min后（除2组和5组之外）断头取脊髓和中脑,采用RT-PCR技术测量nNOS以及NMDA受体1A（NR1A）和2A（NR2A）亚单位的表达。结果显示,2组大鼠第1天至第7天的TFL与基础值相比无显著差异;3组第7天时的TFL仍显著高于基础值;4组的TFL在第1天时最高,第2至第6天期间逐渐降低,第6天时与基础值相比无显著差异：5组的TFL在实验过程中呈下降趋势,虽然第7天时较第1天有所降低,但是仍然显著高于基础值;6组的TFL变化趋势与5组相同。PT—PCR分析结果显示,与1组相比,3组脊髓和中脑的nNOS mRNA表达显著降低,但NR1A mRNA和NR2A mRNA表达无显著改变;4组的nNOS mRNA、NR1A mRNA和NR2A mRNA表达均显著高于1组。与4组相比,6组的nNOS mRNA、NR1A mRNA和NR2A mRNA表达均显著降低。结果提示,吗啡镇痛耐受大鼠脊髓和中脑的nNOS和NMDA受体表达增加,联合应用L—NAME可抑制长期应用吗啡所致的nNOS表达增加和NMDA受体上调,延缓吗啡镇痛耐受的形成。本研究结果提示,脊髓和中脑的NO／NMDA受体与吗啡镇痛耐受形成密切相关。     

右美托咪定对脑缺血/再灌注大鼠海马兴奋性氨基酸含量及NMDA受体亚单位NR1表达的影响

目的：观察右美托咪定预处理对全脑缺血/再灌注大鼠海马细胞外谷氨酸（Glu）、天门冬氨酸（Asp）含量及N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸（NMDA）受体1（NR1）表达的影响,探讨右美托咪定脑保护作用及其神经递质机制。方法：雄性Wistar大鼠54只,随机分为3组（n=18）：假手术组、脑缺血/再灌注组和右美托咪定预处理组。用四血管闭塞法建立大鼠全脑缺血模型。收集清醒、缺血15 min及再灌注0~1 h微透析标本。于全脑缺血15 min再灌注1 h后,迅速断头取脑,采用免疫组化法和蛋白免疫印迹法检测海马NMDA受体NR1亚单位的表达情况。结果：与脑缺血/再灌注组相应时点比较,右美托咪定预处理组大鼠海马微透析液中Glu、Asp含量明显降低（P<0.05, 0.01）;免疫组化和Western-blot法检测显示右美托咪定预处理组大鼠海马组织NMDA受体亚单位NR1表达明显受抑制（P<0.05, 0.01）。结论：右美托咪定预处理不仅减少脑缺血/再灌注时兴奋性氨基酸释放,还能抑制NMDA受体亚单位NR1的高表达而产生脑保护作用。     

NMDA型谷氨酸受体在骨祖细胞和成骨细胞表达并介导力学信号转导

目的：鉴定骨髓间充质干细胞D1和成骨细胞MC3T3-E1、MC3T3-E1亚克隆14是否表达NMDA型谷氨酸受体（NMDAR）,并初步探讨NMDAR是否参与力学信号转导。方法：采用RT—PCR技术、免疫荧光染色技术、蛋白免疫杂交技术和体外细胞循环拉伸装置,鉴定了上述3个细胞系中NMDAR的表达情况,并初步探讨了在MC3T3-E1亚克隆14细胞系中,NMDAR在力学信号转导中的可能作用。结果：3个细胞系均表达NMDA受体亚基1（NR1）和不同的亚基2（NR2A—NR2D）。细胞微丝骨架的破坏并没有阻断力学应变诱导的c-jun、C—fos的表达上调;而阻断NMDAR后,却抑制了力学应变诱导的c-jun、C—fos和成骨细胞特异的转录因子Cbfa1／Runx2的表达上调。结论：NMDAR在骨中表达并发挥功能,参与了骨的力学信号转导过程。     

Subunit assembly of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors analyzed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play major roles in synaptic transmission and plasticity, as well as excitotoxicity. NMDA receptors are thought to be tetrameric complexes mainly composed of NMDA receptor (NR)1 and NR2 subunits. The NR1 subunits are required for the formation of functional NMDA receptor channels, whereas the NR2 subunits modify channel properties. Biochemical and functional studies indicate that subunits making up NMDA receptors are organized into a dimer of dimers, and the N termini of the subunits are major determinants for receptor assembling. Here we used a biophysical approach, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, to analyze the assembly of intact, functional NMDA receptors in living cells. The results showed that NR1, NR2A, and NR2B subunits could form homodimers when they were expressed alone in HEK293 cells. Subunit homodimers were also found existing in heteromeric NMDA receptors formed between NR1 and NR2 subunits. These findings are consistent with functional NMDA receptors being arranged as a dimer of dimers. In addition, our data indicated that the conformation of NR1 subunit homodimers was affected by the partner NR2 subunits during the formation of heteromeric receptor complexes, which might underlie the mechanism by which NR2 subunits modify NMDA receptor function.     

Key amino acid residues within the third membrane domains of NR1 and NR2 subunits contribute to the regulation of the surface delivery of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are glutamate ionotropic receptors that play critical roles in synaptic transmission, plasticity, and excitotoxicity. The functional NMDA receptors, heterotetramers composed mainly of two NR1 and two NR2 subunits, likely pass endoplasmic reticulum quality control before they are released from the endoplasmic reticulum and trafficked to the cell surface. However, the mechanism underlying this process is not clear. Using truncated and mutated NMDA receptor subunits expressed in heterologous cells, we found that the M3 domains of both NR1 and NR2 subunits contain key amino acid residues that contribute to the regulation of the number of surface functional NMDA receptors. These key residues are critical neither for the interaction between the NR1 and NR2 subunits nor for the formation of the functional receptors, but rather they regulate the early trafficking of the receptors. We also found that the identified key amino acid residues within both NR1 and NR2 M3 domains contribute to the regulation of the surface expression of unassembled NR1 and NR2 subunits. Thus, our data identify the unique role of the membrane domains in the regulation of the number of surface NMDA receptors.     

Ethanol sensitivity of NMDA receptors

NMDA receptors are ionotropic glutamate receptors assembled of subunits of the NR1 and of the NR2 family (NR2A–NR2D). The subunit diversity largely affects the pharmacological properties of NMDA receptors and, hence, gives rise to receptor heterogeneity. As an overall result of studies on recombinant and native NMDA receptors, ethanol inhibits the function of receptors containing the subunits NR2A and/or NR2B to a greater extent than those containing NR2C or NR2D. For example, in rat cultured mesencephalic neurons, NR2C expression was developmentally increased, whereas expression of NR2A and NR2B was decreased. These changes coincided with a developmental loss of sensitivity of NMDA responses to ethanol and ifenprodil, a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist that shows selectivity for NR2B-containing receptors. Also in rat locus coeruleus neurons, the low ethanol sensitivity of somatic NMDA receptors could be explained by a prominent expression of NR2C. The inhibitory site of action for ethanol on the NMDA receptor is not yet known. Patch–clamp studies suggest a target site exposed to or only accessible from the extracellular environment. Apparently, amino acid residue Phe⁶³⁹, located in the TM3 domain of NR1, plays a crucial role in the inhibition of NMDA receptor function by ethanol. Since this phenylalanine site is common to all NMDA and non-NMDA receptor (AMPA/kainate receptor) subunits, this observation is consistent with accumulating evidence for a similar ethanol sensitivity of a variety of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors, but it cannot explain the differences in ethanol sensitivity observed with different NR2 subunits.     

Biochemical evidence for the co-association of three N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) R2 subunits in recombinant NMDA receptors.

Functional characterization of wild-type and mutant cloned N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors has been used to deduce their subunit stoichiometry and quaternary structure. However, the results reported from different groups have been at variance and are thus inconclusive. This study has employed a biochemical approach to determine the number of NMDA R2 (NR2) subunits/receptor together with the NMDA R1 (NR1)/NR2 subunit ratio of both cloned and native NMDA receptors. Thus, human embryonic kidney 293 cells were transfected with the NR1-1a and NR2A NMDA receptor subunits in combination with both FLAG- and c-Myc epitope-tagged NR2B subunits. The expressed receptors were detergent-extracted and subjected to double immunoaffinity purification using anti-NR2A and anti-FLAG antibody immunoaffinity columns in series. Immunoblotting of the double immunopurified NR2A/NR2B(FLAG)-containing material demonstrated the presence of anti-NR1, anti-NR2A, anti-FLAG, and, more important, anti-c-Myc antibody immunoreactivities. The presence of anti-c-Myc antibody immunoreactivity in the double immunoaffinity-purified material showed the co-assembly of three NR2 subunits, i.e. NR2A/NR2B(FLAG)/NR2B(c-Myc), within the same NMDA receptor complex. Control experiments excluded the possibility that the co-immunopurification of the three NR2 subunits was an artifact of the solubilization procedure. These results, taken together with those previously described that showed two NR1 subunits/oligomer, suggest that the NMDA receptor is at least pentameric.     

Acidification of rat TRPV1 alters the kinetics of capsaicin responses

Background

Spinal cord N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are intimately involved in the development and maintenance of central sensitization. However, the mechanisms mediating the altered function of the NMDA receptors are not well understood. In this study the role of phosphorylation of NR1 splice variants and NR2 subunits was examined following hind paw inflammation in rats. We further examined the level of expression of these proteins following the injury.

Results

Lumbar spinal cord NR1 subunits were found to be phosphorylated on serine residues within two hours of the induction of hind paw inflammation with carrageenan. The enhanced NR1 serine phosphorylation reversed within six hours. No phosphorylation on NR1 threonine or tyrosine residues was observed. Likewise, no NR2 subunit phosphorylation was observed on serine, threonine or tyrosine residues. An analysis of NR1 and NR2 protein expression demonstrated no change in the levels of NR1 splice variants or NR2A following the inflammation. However, spinal cord NR2B expression was depressed by the hind paw inflammation. The expression of NR2B remained depressed for more than one week following initiation of the inflammation.

Conclusion

These data suggest that NR1 serine phosphorylation leads to an initial increase in NMDA receptor activity in the spinal cord following peripheral injury. The suppression of NR2B expression suggests compensation for the enhanced nociceptive activity. These data indicate that spinal cord NMDA receptors are highly dynamic in the development, maintenance and recovery from central sensitization following an injury. Thus, chronic pain therapies targeted to NMDA receptors should be designed for the exact configuration of NMDA receptor subunits and post-translational modifications present during specific stages of the disease.     

The distribution and developmental regulation of NMDA receptor subunit proteins in the outer and inner retina of the rat

In order to investigate whether N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors with distinct pharmacological properties are differentially distributed within the retinal layers, the spatial distribution and temporal regulation of all NMDA receptor subunits was analyzed in parallel on the protein level in the rat retina during development. Immunohistochemistry was performed on retinal sections at different developmental ages between embryonic (E) days 20/21 and the adult stage using specific antibodies against NMDA subunits (NR1, NR2A-D). All NMDA subunits were expressed in the rat retina postnatally but showed different spatial patterns. In particular, and in contrast to previous in situ hybridization studies, labeling of NR2 subunits was observed in horizontal cell bodies and in the outer plexiform layer, indicating that functional NMDA receptors are expressed in this retinal cell type in the rat. Expression of NR2D was restricted to the inner retina and seemed to be involved in neurotransmission within the rod pathway. In the inner plexiform layer (IPL), distinct patterns of labeling were observed for different NMDA subunits. NR1 was found in two bands which can be related to the off- and on-signal pathways, whereas NR2A and NR2B were located in two bands within the off-sublaminae of the IPL. The antibody against NR2C was distributed throughout the whole IPL, and NR2D was expressed exclusively in the innermost part of the IPL where rod bipolar cell terminals terminate. Distinct bands of immunoreactivity in the IPL were observed only from P14 on. In conclusion, there are clear differences in the spatial distribution and temporal expression of NMDA receptor subtypes in the rodent retina. This indicates that specific retinal cells selectively express glutamate receptors composed of different subunit combinations and thus display different pharmacological and kinetic properties.     

A three amino acid tail following the TM4 region of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NR) 2 subunits is sufficient to overcome endoplasmic reticulum retention of NR1-1a subunit

The cytoplasmic C-terminal domains of NR2 subunits have been proposed to modulate the assembly and trafficking of NMDA receptors. However, questions remain concerning which domains in the C terminus of NR2 subunits control the assembly of receptor complexes and how the assembled complexes are selectively trafficked through the various cellular compartments such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the cell surface. In the present study, we found that the three amino acid tail after the TM4 region of NR2 subunits is necessary for surface expression of functional NMDA receptors, while truncations with only two amino acids following the TM4 region (NR2Delta2) completely eliminated surface expression of the NMDA receptor on co-expression with NR1-1a in HEK293 cells. FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) analysis showed that these NR2Delta2 truncations are able to form homomers and heteromers on co-expression with NR1-1a. Furthermore, when NR2Delta2 subunits were cotransfected with either the NR1-4a or NR1-1a(AAA) mutant, lacking the ER retention motif (RRR), functional NMDA receptors were detected in the transfected HEK293 cells. Unexpectedly, we found that the replacement of five residues after TM4 with alanines gave results indistinguishable from those of NR2BDelta5 (EHLFY), demonstrating the short tail following the TM4 of NR2 subunits is not sequence-specific-dependent. Taken together, our results show that the C terminus of the NR2 subunits is not necessary for the assembly of NMDA receptor complexes, whereas a three amino acid long cytoplasmic tail following the TM4 of NR2 subunits is sufficient to overcome the ER retention existing in the C terminus of NR1, allowing the assembled NMDA receptors to reach the cell surface.     

Chronic ethanol exposure delays the 'developmental switch' of the NMDA receptor 2A and 2B subunits in cultured cerebellar granule neurons

Chronic ethanol treatment of cultured neurons from various brain areas has been found to increase NMDA receptor function and to alter the levels of some NMDA receptor subunit proteins. Because the cultured neurons are exposed to ethanol during a period when the NMDA receptor is undergoing developmental changes in subunit expression, we wished to determine whether ethanol treatment alters this developmental pattern. We found that 3 days of treatment of cerebellar granule neurons with ethanol, which was previously reported to increase NMDA receptor function, resulted in a delay in the 'developmental switch' of the NR2A and NR2B subunits, i.e. the developmental decrease in NR2B and increase in NR2A protein expression. As a result, the level of NR2B was higher, and that of NR2A was lower, in the ethanol-treated cells than in control cells. Cross-linking experiments showed that the changes in total receptor subunit proteins levels were reflected in cell-surface expressed proteins, indicating changes in the amount of functional receptors. These results were confirmed by a higher potency of glycine at the NMDA receptor in the ethanol-treated cells, as determined by NMDA/glycine-induced increases in intracellular Ca(2+). The results suggest that the mechanism by which ethanol alters NMDA receptor expression in cultured neurons, where receptors are undergoing development, differs from the mechanism of ethanol's effect on NMDA receptors in adult brain. Changes in the proportion of NR2A and NR2B subunits may contribute to effects of ethanol on neuronal development.     

Formation of NR1/NR2 and NR1/NR3 heterodimers constitutes the initial step in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor assembly

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are tetrameric protein complexes composed of the glycine-binding NR1 subunit with a glutamate-binding NR2 and/or glycine-binding NR3 subunit. Tri-heteromeric receptors containing NR1, NR2, and NR3 subunits reconstitute channels, which differ strikingly in many properties from the respective glycine- and glutamate-gated NR1/NR2 complexes and the NR1/NR3 receptors gated by glycine alone. Therefore, an accurate oligomerization process of the different subunits has to assure proper NMDA receptor assembly, which has been assumed to occur via the oligomerization of homodimers. Indeed, using fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis of differentially fluorescence-tagged subunits and blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after metabolic labeling and affinity purification revealed that the NR1 subunit is capable of forming homo-oligomeric aggregates. In contrast, both the NR2 and the NR3 subunits formed homo- and hetero-oligomers only in the presence of the NR1 subunit indicating differential roles of the subunits in NMDA receptor assembly. However, co-expression of the NR3A subunit with an N-terminal domain-deleted NR1 subunit (NR1(DeltaNTD)) abrogating NR1 homo-oligomerization did not affect NR1/NR3A receptor stoichiometry or function. Hence, homo-oligomerization of the NR1 subunit is not essential for proper NR1/NR3 receptor assembly. Because identical results were obtained for NR1(DeltaNTD)/NR2 NMDA receptors (Madry, C., Mesic, I., Betz, H., and Laube, B. (2007) Mol. Pharmacol., 72, 1535-1544) and NR1-containing hetero-oligomers are readily formed, we assume that heterodimerization of the NR1 with an NR3 or NR2 subunit, which is followed by the subsequent association of two heterodimers, is the key step in determining proper NMDA receptor subunit assembly and stoichiometry.