GRIK5, GRIK2, Glutamate receptor, ionotropic kainate 5, Excitatory amino acid receptor 2, Glutamate receptor KA-2

This gene encodes a protein that belongs to the glutamate-gated ionic channel family. Glutamate functions as the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system through activation of ligand-gated ion channels and G protein-coupled membrane receptors. The protein encoded by this gene forms functional heteromeric kainate-preferring ionic channels with the subunits encoded by related gene family members. [provided by RefSeq].