L-AP4 (L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid) is a drug used in scientific research, which acts as a group-selective

agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an antagonist blocks the action of the ago ...

for the group III metabotropic glutamate receptors ( mGluR₄_/ ₆_/ ₇_/ ₈). It was the first ligand found to act as an agonist selective for this group of mGlu receptors, but does not show selectivity between the different mGluR Group III subtypes. It is widely used in the study of this receptor family and their various functions.

References

Alpha-Amino acids Phosphonic acids MGlu4 receptor agonists MGlu6 receptor agonists MGlu7 receptor agonists MGlu8 receptor agonists {{nervous-system-drug-stub