The ion channels activated by glutamate are typically divided into two classes. Those that are sensitive to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) are designated NMDA receptors (NMDAR) while those activated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxalone propionic acid (AMPA) are known as AMPA receptors (AMPAR). The AMPAR are comprised of four distinct glutamate receptor subunits designated (GluR1-4) and they play key roles in virtually all excitatory neurotransmission in the brain (Keinänen et al., 1990, Hollmann and Heinemann, 1994). The number of GluR2 subunits in the AMPA receptor complex affects the Ca2+ permeability, rectification and single-channel conductance of AMPA receptors. Ser880 has been identified as the PKC phosphorylation site within the C-terminal region of GluR2 and has been shown to differentially regulate the interaction of the PDZ domain-containing proteins GRIP1 and PICK 1 (Matsuda et al., 1999)Synonyms: AMPA-selective glutamate receptor 2, AMPA2, GRIA2, GluR-B, GluR-K2, Glutamate receptor ionotropic