GluN1,Glutamate [NMDA] receptor subunit zeta-1,Glutamate receptor ionotropic N methyl D aspartate 1,Glutamate receptor ionotropic,N-methyl-D aspartate,subunit 1,glutamate receptor ionotropic,NMDA 1,Grin1,MRD8,N methyl D aspartate receptor,N methyl D aspartate receptor channel subunit zeta 1,N methyl D aspartate receptor subunit NR1,N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR1,NMD-R1,NMDA 1,NMDA R1,NMDA receptor 1,NMDA1,NMDAR,NMDZ1,NR1,The protein encoded by this gene is a critical subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, members of the glutamate receptor channel superfamily which are heteromeric protein complexes with multiple subunits arranged to form a ligand-gated ion channel. These subunits play a key role in the plasticity of synapses, which is believed to underlie memory and learning. Cell-specific factors are thought to control expression of different isoforms, possibly contributing to the functional diversity of the subunits. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described.