GluK2

GluK2, also known as kainate receptor subunit 2, is a subunit of kainate-type ionotropic glutamate receptors. In humans, the GluK2 subunit is encoded by the GRIK2 gene. GluK2 is part of a family of kainate receptor subunits (GluK1–GluK5) that assemble to form functional ligand-gated ion channels in the central nervous system.

As with other ionotropic glutamate receptors, GluK2 assembles as a tetramer and contributes to excitatory neurotransmission. The receptors containing GluK2 have a typical modular architecture, including an extracellular amino-terminal domain, a ligand-binding domain, and transmembrane segments that create a cation-permeable channel. RNA editing at certain sites can influence channel properties, including calcium permeability and receptor kinetics, thereby modulating synaptic signaling and plasticity.

GluK2-containing receptors are widely expressed in the brain, with notable presence in regions such as the hippocampus and cortex. They participate in fast excitatory synaptic transmission and can modulate neurotransmitter release at presynaptic sites. Through their activity, GluK2-containing receptors contribute to synaptic plasticity processes that underlie learning and memory, and they can influence network excitability.

Pharmacologically, GluK2 receptors are activated by endogenous glutamate and kainate, and they can be modulated by various agonists and antagonists used in neuroscience research. Dysregulation of GluK2 function or expression has been linked to neurological conditions such as epilepsy and ischemia-related excitotoxicity, and genetic variations in GRIK2 have been investigated for associations with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.