Symposia/Workshop programme

 

NMDA receptors: building function from structure

Synopsis

 

Organised by

David J Wyllie (University of Edinburgh, UK) and Susan Jones (University of Cambridge, UK)

 

Location *

TBC

 

0845

Welcome and Introduction/Overview David Wyllie (University of Edinburgh, UK)

0900

Stephen Traynelis (Emory University, USA)
Control of NMDA receptor function

0930

Pierre Paoletti (Ecole Normale Supérieure, France)
Modulatory domains in NMDA receptors

1000

Sue Jones (University of Cambridge, UK)
NMDA receptors in midbrain dopaminergic neurones

1030

Coffee

1100

Stuart Cull-Candy (University College London, UK)
NMDA receptors in the cerebellum

1130

David Wyllie (University of Edinburgh, UK)
NMDA receptors in neuronal survival, death and plasticity: do subtypes play specific roles?

 

Synopsis

Glutamate is released from neurones in the mammalian brain and stimulates target cells by binding to glutamate receptors. The NMDA glutamate receptor is the focus of this symposium. NMDA receptors initiate biochemical cascades inside neurones that change neuronal synaptic communication; such changes are thought to underlie neural development as well as learning and memory formation. However, NMDA receptors can also contribute to excitotoxic neuronal death. 

NMDA receptor proteins contain an integral ion channel that, when functionally opened by a combination of glutamate and membrane depolarization, allows calcium ions to move into neurones. The magnitude, rate and duration of calcium ion entry are pivotal in determining the physiological and pathological consequences of NMDA receptor activation. This symposium will highlight some recent insights in understanding the structure, function and modulation of the NMDA receptor by dissecting functional domains that determine the biophysical properties of the receptor, revealing molecular mechanisms involved in NMDA receptor modulation, and considering how such information facilitates identification of the functional properties of NMDA receptors in native brain neurones.

 

Symposia Location Key

LT 1 Babbage Lecture Theatre (New Museums Site)
LT 2 Cockcroft Lecture Theatre (New Museums Site)
LT 3 Main Physiology Lecture Theatre (Downing Site)
LT 4 Main Anatomy Lecture Theatre (Downing Site)
LT 5 Biffin Lecture Theatre (Downing Site)
LT 6 Physiology Lecture Theatre 3 (Downing Site)
LT 7 Arts School Room B (New Museums Site)
LT 8 Arts School Room C (New Museums Site)