Glutamate and Glycine Binding to the NMDA Receptor (Structure)

In the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor family of ionotropic glutamate receptors, the agonist glutamate and its co-agonist glycine bind to their respective subunits by different dynamic mechanisms. Glutamate binding is assisted by structural features on the receptor surface. Glycine binding does not receive such assistance.