Background：Glutamate receptors are the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the mammalian brain and are activated in a variety of normal neurophysiologic processes. These receptors are heteromeric protein complexes composed of multiple subunits, arranged to form ligand-gated ion channels. The classification of glutamate receptors is based on their activation by different pharmacologic agonists. The subunit encoded by this gene belongs to a family of AMPA （alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate）-sensitive glutamate receptors, and is subject to RNA editing （AGA-＞GGA; R-＞G）. Alternative splicing at this locus results in different isoforms, which may vary in their signal transduction properties.
