RNA editing plays an important role in determining physiological characteristics of certain glutamate-gated receptor (GIuR) channels such as Ca 2 permeability and desensitization kinetics. In one case, the editing changes a gene-encoded glutamine (0) to an arginine (R) codon located in the channel-forming domain of the a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) receptor subunit GIuR-B and also the kainate receptor subunits GIuR5 and GIuR6. Another case of RNA editing alters an arginine (R) to a glycine (G) codon at a position termed the "RIG" site of AMPA subunits GIuR-B, C, and D. Double-stranded RNA-specific adenosine deaminases (DRADA) have been implicated as agents involved in the editing. By using a human teratocarcinoma cell line, NT2, we investigated the change of the RNA editing of GIuR subunits in conjunction with the expression of two DRADA members, DRADA1 and DRADA2 genes, during neuronal differentiation. Whereas OIR and R/G site RNA editing both become progressively activated in differentiating NT2 cells, the expression of the two DRADA genes can already be detected even in the undifferentiated NT2 cells. Developmentof the editing machinery appears to require, in addition to DRADA enzymes, a currently unidentified mechanism(s) that may become activated during neuronal differentiation. Key Words: Double-stranded RNA-dsRNA adenosine deaminase-dsRNA binding protein-Glutamate receptor channel-RNA editing.