The GRIN2A antibody is a tool used to detect the GRIN2A protein, which encodes the GluN2A subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a key ionotropic glutamate receptor in the central nervous system. NMDA receptors are critical for synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. The GluN2A subunit, one of four regulatory subunits (GluN2A-D), determines receptor localization, ligand affinity, and downstream signaling. GRIN2A is predominantly expressed in the forebrain and plays a role in regulating synaptic strength and calcium permeability.
Mutations in the GRIN2A gene are linked to neurological disorders, including epilepsy-aphasia syndromes, intellectual disability, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Antibodies targeting GRIN2A are widely used in research to study protein expression, distribution, and function in normal and pathological states. They enable techniques like immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence to visualize receptor localization in neuronal membranes or assess expression changes in disease models.
GRIN2A antibodies also aid in investigating NMDA receptor dysregulation in conditions like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. Their specificity is validated using knockout controls or peptide blocking to ensure accurate detection. Understanding GRIN2A’s role through antibody-based research contributes to therapeutic development targeting NMDA receptor dysfunction.