Roles and rules of kainate receptors in synaptic transmission

Functional kainate receptors are ubiquitous in the central nervous system. After a search for their functional significance, a considerable amount of data indicates that this class of glutamate receptors is present at both sides of the synapse. Pre- and postsynaptic kainate receptors can regulate transmission at many synapses in a specific manner, and seem to be involved in short- and long-term plastic phenomena, highlighting their significance for synaptic signalling.