Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 3 (GRM3)

The metabotropic glutamate receptors are a family of G protein-coupled receptors, that have been divided into 3 groups on the basis of sequence homology, putative signal transduction mechanisms, and pharmacologic properties.

Group I includes GRM1 and GRM5 and these receptors have been shown to activate phospholipase C. Group II includes GRM2 and GRM3 while Group III includes GRM4, GRM6, GRM7 and GRM8. Group II and III receptors are linked to the inhibition of the cyclic AMP cascade but differ in their agonist selectivities.Though truly mGluR3 selective agents still await their discovery, mixed mGluR2/3 (group-II) ligands with selectivity over other mGluR-subtypes are known (2008). Low oral bioavailability is observed in some of them, but it can be met by applying a prodrug strategy.