Receptor for glutamate. L-glutamate acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter at many synapses in the central nervous system. The postsynaptic actions of Glu are mediated by a variety of receptors that are named according to their selective agonists (By similarity). Forms ligand-gated ion channels which are activated by kainate. Homooligomer. Central nervous system. No expression is seen in early embryogenesis, whereas high expression occurs in late embryos. During larval development, expression decreases to undetectable levels in late larvae, resumes at the early pupal stage and gradually increases in late pupae and early adult flies. High levels of expression coincide with major stages of neurogenesis. Belongs to the glutamate-gated ion channel (TC 1.A.10.1) family.