イオンチャネル型と代謝型受容体がある。
イオンチャネル型はNMDA受容体（N-メチル-D-アスパラギン酸受容体）と非NMDA受容体に分けられる。
NMDA受容体
グルタミン酸受容体の一種。細胞外ドメインに続きM1、M3，M4の膜貫通部位とM1とM3を繋ぐ細胞内ドメインのM2（イオン選択性に係わるループ構造）よりなる。M4の続きは細胞内に伸びて、PDZドメインを介してPSD-95（足場タンパク質）に結合している。M3とM4の間は細胞外にあってグルタミン酸結合に関与する。
Ionotropic glutamate receptor. L-glutamate acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter at many synapses in the central nervous system. Binding of the excitatory neurotransmitter L-glutamate induces a conformation change, leading to the opening of the cation channel, and thereby converts the chemical signal to an electrical impulse. The receptor then desensitizes rapidly and enters a transient inactive state, characterized by the presence of bound agonist. In the presence of CACNG4 or CACNG7 or CACNG8, shows resensitization which is characterized by a delayed accumulation of current flux upon continued application of glutamate.
Subunit structure
Homotetramer or heterotetramer of pore-forming glutamate receptor subunits. Tetramers may be formed by the dimerization of dimers. Interacts with DLG1 via its C-terminus. Interacts with CACNG2. Interacts with HIP1 and RASGRF2. Interacts with SYNDIG1 and GRIA2. Interacts with LRFN1. Found in a complex with GRIA2, GRIA3, GRIA4, CNIH2, CNIH3, CACNG2, CACNG3, CACNG4, CACNG5, CACNG7 and CACNG8. Interacts with CNIH2, CACNG2 AND CACGN5. Interacts with SNX27 (via PDZ domain); the interaction is required for recycling to the plasma membrane when endocytosed and prevent degradation in lysosomes. Interacts (via PDZ-binding motif) with SHANK3 (via PDZ domain).
