Abstract
Glutamate receptors are subdivided into metabotropic and ionotropic glutamate receptors. AMPA receptors are a class of ionotropic glutamate receptors, composed of GluA1-GluA4 subunits. AMPA receptors are present both postsynaptically and presynaptically. AMPA receptors assemble as tetramers and are present as dimers of dimers. AMPA receptor subunits are formed as the consequence of differential RNA editing. The GluA2 subunit undergoes RNA editing at the Q/R site. AMPA receptors possess agonists, competitive antagonists, non competitive antagonists, positive allosteric modulators and pore blocking molecules that act on the receptors to produce an effect. AMPA receptor trafficking plays a role in synaptic plasticity.