Fig. 4
From: Targeting NMDA receptors in stroke: new hope in neuroprotection
Further downstream cell death signaling proteins activated by NMDARs. Stimulation of NMDARs in excitotoxicity activates calpain-mediated cleavage of proteins and contributes to cell death. Examples of the substrates for calpain-cleavage include NCX3, mGluR1, Kidins220, and STEP. In excitotoxicity, NMDARs also activate p38 and JNK to induce cell death. In addition, NMDAR stimulation triggers the degradation of INSIG1 and disinhibits SREBP1-mediated cell death