Ionotropic glutamate receptors are key to excitatory signaling in the brain, with kainate receptors (KARs) playing a modulatory role in neuronal circuits and being linked to neurological disorders when mutated. This project uses cryo-EM to study how specific mutations in the GluK2 subunit alter receptor structure, desensitization, and ion flow. The findings could clarify how KARs function at a molecular level and support the development of targeted therapies