AMPA Receptor Trafficking: A Road Map for Synaptic Plasticity

Early trafficking of AMPA receptors from the ER to the Golgi complex. GluR1–GluR2 oligomers exit the ER rapidly, in a process that may be assisted by the interaction between GluR1 C-terminus and the PDZ protein SAP97. GluR2–GluR3 oligomers are transferred to Golgi more slowly, and this process requires the interaction between the GluR2 C-terminus and the PDZ protein PICK1. In addition, a population of GluR2 subunits remains retained at the ER, probably complexed with luminal chaperones.