Regulation of AMPA receptors by phosphorylation

The AMPA receptors for glutamate are oligomeric structures that mediate fas t excitatory responses in the central nervous system. Phosphorylation of AM PA receptors is an important mechanism for short-term modulation of their f unction, and is thought to play an important role in synaptic plasticity in different brain regions. Recent studies have shown that phosphorylation of AMPA receptors by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and Ca2+ - and calmo dulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) potentiates their activity, but phosphorylation of the receptor subunits may also affect their interaction with intracellular proteins, and their expression at the plasma membrane. P hosphorylation of AMPA receptor subunits has also been investigated in rela tion to processes of synaptic plasticity. This review focuses on recent adv ances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of regulation of AMPA recep tors, and their implications in synaptic plasticity.