Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor mGLUR4 Antibodies

mGluR4 (GRM4) is a Group III metabotropic glutamate receptor and a class C GPCR that primarily functions as a presynaptic autoreceptor for glutamate. It is predominantly coupled to Gi/o proteins, leading to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, reduced cAMP formation and suppression of neurotransmitter release. mGluR4 is highly expressed in the central nervous system, particularly in the cerebellum, basal ganglia, thalamus, hippocampus and cerebral cortex, where it is found mainly at presynaptic terminals. By reducing glutamate release, mGluR4 acts as an important negative regulator of excitatory neurotransmission and contributes to the control of neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity. The receptor has attracted considerable interest as a potential therapeutic target for Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, anxiety, pain, schizophrenia and other neurological disorders. Several potent and selective positive allosteric modulators have been developed, including PHCCC, VU0155041, VU0361737 and ADX88178, which enhance receptor responses to endogenous glutamate without directly activating the receptor. mGluR4 agonists and positive allosteric modulators have shown neuroprotective, anticonvulsant and antiparkinsonian effects in several preclinical models, particularly by modulating abnormal basal ganglia signaling. No selective mGluR4-targeting drug has yet been approved, although compounds such as foliglurax (mGluR4 PAM) have advanced into clinical development for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological indications. Overall, mGluR4 is a pharmacologically well-characterized receptor with strong therapeutic potential, particularly for disorders involving excessive glutamatergic signaling and dysfunction of basal ganglia circuits. For more information on mGluR4 pharmacology please refer to the IUPHAR database. For further reading refer to:

Gregory KJ, Goudet C. (2021) International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. CXI. Pharmacology, Signaling, and Physiology of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. Pharmacol Rev, 73 (1): 521-569.