An agonist at two subsets of excitatory amino acid receptors, ionotropic receptors that directly control membrane channels and metabotropic receptors that indirectly mediate calcium mobilization from intracellular stores. The compound is obtained from the seeds and fruit of Quisqualis chinensis. [PubChem]
Biochem/physiol Actions Active enantiomer of quisqualic acid; excitatory amino acid at glutamate receptors. Other Notes Quisqualate receptor agonist. In studies on excitatory amino acid receptors1,2