D-serine signalling in the brain: friend and foe.
Trends in Neurosciences. 2006-08-01; 29(8): 481-491
DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2006.06.008
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1. Trends Neurosci. 2006 Aug;29(8):481-91. Epub 2006 Jun 30.
D-serine signalling in the brain: friend and foe.
Martineau M(1), Baux G, Mothet JP.
Author information:
(1)Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Morphofonctionnelle, INSERM U378, 146 Rue Léo
Saignat, 33077 Bordeaux, France.
Neurons and glia talk to each other at synapses. Glia sense the level of synaptic
activity and consequently regulate its efficacy via the release of
neuromodulators. One such glia-derived modulator is D-serine, an amino acid that
serves as an endogenous ligand for the strychnine-insensitive glycine-binding
site of NMDA glutamate receptors. Here, we provide an overview of recent findings
on the mechanisms of its synthesis, release and clearance at synapses, with an
emphasis on the dichotomy of behaviour of this novel messenger in the brain. The
discovery of the good and ugly faces of this gliotransmitter is an important
issue of modern neuroscience that has repercussions for the treatment of brain
disorders.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2006.06.008
PMID: 16806506 [Indexed for MEDLINE]