Nuclear respiratory factor 2 regulates the expression of the same NMDA receptor subunit genes as NRF-1: Both factors act by a concurrent and parallel mechanism to couple energy metabolism and synaptic transmission

► NRF-2 functionally regulates critical Grin1 and Grin2b subunits of NMDA receptors. ► Silencing NRF-2 prevented KCl-induced up-regulation of Grin1, Grin2b, and COX. ► Over-expressing NRF-2 rescued TTX-induced down-regulation of Grin1, Grin2b, and COX. ► NRF-2 (GABP) transcriptionally coregulates energy metabolism and neuronal activity. ► NRF-2 and NRF-1 regulate NMDA receptors and COX in a concurrent and parallel manner.