STUDY OF THE STEREOSELECTIVITY OF L-GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS BY SYNTHETIC 4(R)-SUBSTITUTED AND 4(S)-SUBSTITUTED L-GLUTAMATE ANALOGS

R- and S-stereoisomers of 4-substituted L-glutamate analogues are used to study the stereoselectivity of L-glutamate receptors. It is found that 4(R)-substituted analogues are more potent than their 4(S)-isomers in interacting with L-glutamate receptors both at porcine brain synaptic junctions and on drosophila muscles. This demonstrates that the ligand recognition site Of L-glutamate receptors has chiral selectivity discriminating L-glutamate analogues with bulky 4(R)- and 4(S)-substituent groups.