Structure of Transmembrane AMPA Receptor Regulatory Protein Subunit γ2

Abstract

Transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) are claudin-like proteins that tightly regulate AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and are fundamental for excitatory neurotransmission. We used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to reconstruct the 36 kDa TARP subunit {gamma}2 to 2.3 [A] and reveal the structural diversity of TARPs. Our data reveals critical motifs that distinguish TARPs from claudins and define how sequence variations within TARPs differentiate subfamilies and their regulation of AMPARs.