Glutamate Receptor, Ionotropic, Kainate 1 (GRIK1)

GRIK1 encodes one of the many ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluR) subunits that function as a ligand-gated ion channel. The specific GluR subunit encoded by this gene is of the kainate receptor subtype. Receptor assembly and intracellular trafficking of ionotropic glutamate receptors are regulated by RNA editing and alternative splicing. This gene product belongs to the kainate family of glutamate receptors, which are composed of four subunits and function as ligand-activated ion channels. The subunit encoded by this gene is subject to RNA editing (CAG->CGG; Q->R) within the second transmembrane domain, which is thought to alter the properties of ion flow. Alternative splicing, resulting in transcript variants encoding different isoforms, has been noted for this gene.