PHENYLGLYCINE DERIVATIVES AS ANTAGONISTS OF METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS

Metabotropic glutamate receptors represent a family of G protein-coupl ed receptors that can be activated by L-glutamate, the principal excit atory neurotransmitter in the brain. Until recently, progress in ident ifying the physiological and pathological roles of metabotropic glutam ate receptors has been hampered by the lack of selective antagonists. In this article, Jeff Watkins and Graham Collingridge describe the pha rmacology of, and initial physiological studies using, certain phenylg lycine derivatives and related substances-the first definitive antagon ists of metabotropic glutamate receptors.