Diversity in AMPA receptor complexes in the brain

AMPA receptor (AMPAR) complexes comprise four of the AMPAR subunits GluA1-4 and several additional interacting proteins. Subunit composition determines AMPAR function. However, AMPAR function depends to a large extent also on interacting proteins, which influence trafficking to the cell surface, activity-dependent subcellular localization and gating of AMPARs. In this review we report about recent findings on the diversity of AMPAR complexes that allow us to better understand functional properties of native receptors in the brain.