Creative Bioarray is committed to helping clients analyze the gating motions and stationary gating characteristics of iGluRs through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and theoretical modeling technology, contributing to filling some knowledge gaps in the structure and function of iGluRs.
AMPARs and NMDARs are the two major subtypes of postsynaptic iGluRs, which are responsible for initiating excitatory signaling in the central nervous system (CNS). These receptors convert transient glutamate signals generated by presynaptic release into postsynaptic electrical and biochemical signals. The strength of synaptic connections between neurons depends on the duration of glutamate-induced channel opening, which is critical for neural development and higher-order processes such as memory.
Due to their physiological importance and pathophysiological significance, iGluRs have received extensive attention from researchers. The determination of isolated domains and transmembrane-domain-containing structures provides a basis for formulating mechanistic hypotheses. However, these structures represent only sparse and incomplete snapshots during iGluR activation, and the structural, energetic, and kinetic aspects of key substates during functional processes remain unknown. The development of MD simulation techniques has opened up the possibility of connecting the two conformational snapshots through physically plausible pathways, allowing the exploration of the molecular motions of iGluRs from one functional state to another.
Fig. 1 Theoretical model for iGluR gating thermodynamics and kinetics. (Zhou, 2017)
We are dedicated to helping our clients through MD simulations to analyze the transition of receptors between their various functional states, such as open and closed TM channels, as well as ligand binding, activity and desensitized LBD domains. In addition, we combine MD simulation technology with computing and electrophysiology to explore the thermodynamic and dynamic characteristics of gating processes. Our services include but not limited to:
Creative Bioarray has established a variety of technologies to provide clients with MD simulation of the iGluR gating process to predict the functional characteristics of iGluR from intra- and interdomain energetics and dynamics in MD simulations. If you are interested in our services, please contact us for more details.
Creative Bioarray is a world-leading biological company dedicated to customized one-stop scientific research services in the field of ion channels.