Glutamate Receptor, Ionotropic, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate 3B (GRIN3B)

The GRIN3B gene encodes a subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, which belongs to the superfamily of glutamate-regulated ion channels that are present in neurons throughout the central nervous system (Andersson et al., 2001). When coassembled with NR1 (GRIN1) or NR2 (GRIN2A), it acts as an inhibitory subunit that decreases the current amplitude and calcium permeablility (Niemann et al., 2008).

By screening a human fetal brain cDNA library, Andersson et al. (2001) isolated the GRIN3B cDNA. GRIN3B cDNA contains 2703 bp corresponding to a protein, NR3B, of 901 amino acids. In situ hybridization showed widespread distribution of Grin3b mRNA in the adult rat brain Andersson et al. (2001).