Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 3 is a protein in humans that is encoded by GRIK3 gene. Receptor for glutamate that functions as ligand-gated ion channel in the central nervous system and plays an important role in excitatory synaptic transmission. 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. This receptor binds domoate > kainate >> L-glutamate = quisqualate >> AMPA = NMDA.