NMDA Receptors Methods and Protocols

This fully updated volume explores N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), and the structure-function relations, principles, and rules that govern how NMDARs operate in brain processing under normal and pathological conditions. With chapters from leading laboratories around the world, this book examines the expression and purification of diverse NMDA receptor subtypes, gene targeting and generation of conditional NMDAR mutant mouse lines, studies of NMDARs in zebrafish, electrophysiological studies, NMDARs modeling in silico, drug development with artificial intelligence, and much more. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step and readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. 

Spectrum of NMDA Receptor Variants in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Epilepsy.- Expression and Purification of Mammalian NMDA Receptor Protein for Functional Characterization.- Analysis of Surface Expression of NMDAR Subunits in Primary Hippocampal Neurons.- Transfection in Primary Cultured Neuronal Cells.- Selective Cell-Surface Expression of Triheteromeric NMDA Receptors.- Generation of Rare Human NMDA Receptor Variants in Mice.- Behavioral Analysis of NMDAR Function in Rodents: Tests of Long-Term Spatial Memory.- Functional Analysis of NMDAR Subunits Components in Post Synaptic Currents of Identified Cells and Synapses in Brain Slices.- Estimating the Ca²⁺ Block of NMDA Receptors with Single-Channel Electrophysiology.- Estimating the Ca²⁺ Permeability of NMDA Receptors with Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology.- Analysis of Functional NMDA Receptors in Astrocytes.- Single-Molecule FRET Analyses of NMDA Receptors.- Behavioral Assays Dissecting NMDA Receptor Function in Zebrafish.- Characterizing Functional Contributions of Specific GluN2 Subunits to Individual Postsynaptic NMDAR Responses Using Biophysical Parameters.- Modeling and Simulation of the NMDA Receptor at Coarse-Grained and Atomistic Levels.- Application of Deep Learning for Studying NMDA Receptors.