A conformationally restricted analogue of L-glutamate, the (2S,3R,4S) isomer of L-alpha-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine, activates the NMDA-type receptor more markedly than NMDA in the isolated rat spinal cord.

Depolarizing actions of 4 conformationally restricted L-glutamate analogues, (2S,3S,4S) isomer (L-CCG-I), (2S,3R,4R) isomer (L-CCG-II), (2S,3S,4R) isomer (L-CCG-III) and (2S,3R,4S) isomer (L-CCG-IV) of L-alpha-(carboxycyclopropyl)-glycine (L-CCG), were investigated in the isolated rat spinal cord by extracellular recordings of potential changes of motoneurones from the ventral roots, in order to study the interaction between the conformation of glutamate and its receptor subtype. The order of the depolarizing activity was quisqualate greater than L-CCG-IV = kainate greater than NMDA greater than L-CCG-I greater than L-CCG-III greater than L-CCG-II. The depolarization caused by L-CCG-IV was effectively blocked by the NMDA antagonists and Mg2+ ions, while the L-CCG-I response was not affected by these blockers. These results suggest that the NMDA-type receptor is activated by a folded form of L-glutamate.