In addition to clustering AMPA receptors, via a dimerisation domain, PICK1 has been shown to have multiple effects in neurons including roles in the insertion of AMPA receptors (Daw et al 2000), the internalisation of kainate receptors (Hirbec et al 2003) and the regulation of AMPA receptor subunit composition (Terashima et al 2004). (bristol.ac.uk)
The amount of kainate controls how many astrocytes spontaneously light up and thus produces the background noise. (sciencemag.org)
Kainate added to the cultured astrocytes lit them up; the glow quickly spread to neighboring cells and the wave spiraled like a pinwheel. (sciencemag.org)