TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular and cellular physiology of sodium-dependent glutamate transporters
AU - Rose, Christine R
AU - Ziemens, Daniel
AU - Untiet, Verena
AU - Fahlke, Christoph
N1 - Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/1
Y1 - 2018/1
N2 - Glutamate is the major excitatory transmitter in the vertebrate brain. After its release from presynaptic nerve terminals, it is rapidly taken up by high-affinity sodium-dependent plasma membrane transporters. While both neurons and glial cells express these excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs), the majority of glutamate uptake is accomplished by astrocytes, which convert synaptically-released glutamate to glutamine or feed it into their own metabolism. Glutamate uptake by astrocytes not only shapes synaptic transmission by regulating the availability of glutamate to postsynaptic neuronal receptors, but also protects neurons from hyper-excitability and subsequent excitotoxic damage. In the present review, we provide an overview of the molecular and cellular characteristics of sodium-dependent glutamate transporters and their associated anion permeation pathways, with a focus on astrocytic glutamate transport. We summarize their functional properties and roles within tripartite synapses under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, exemplifying the intricate interactions and interrelationships between neurons and glial cells in the brain.
AB - Glutamate is the major excitatory transmitter in the vertebrate brain. After its release from presynaptic nerve terminals, it is rapidly taken up by high-affinity sodium-dependent plasma membrane transporters. While both neurons and glial cells express these excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs), the majority of glutamate uptake is accomplished by astrocytes, which convert synaptically-released glutamate to glutamine or feed it into their own metabolism. Glutamate uptake by astrocytes not only shapes synaptic transmission by regulating the availability of glutamate to postsynaptic neuronal receptors, but also protects neurons from hyper-excitability and subsequent excitotoxic damage. In the present review, we provide an overview of the molecular and cellular characteristics of sodium-dependent glutamate transporters and their associated anion permeation pathways, with a focus on astrocytic glutamate transport. We summarize their functional properties and roles within tripartite synapses under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, exemplifying the intricate interactions and interrelationships between neurons and glial cells in the brain.
KW - Animals
KW - Astrocytes/metabolism
KW - Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/chemistry
KW - Glutamic Acid/metabolism
KW - Humans
KW - Neurons/metabolism
U2 - 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.12.013
DO - 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.12.013
M3 - Review
C2 - 28040508
SN - 0361-9230
VL - 136
SP - 3
EP - 16
JO - Brain Research Bulletin
JF - Brain Research Bulletin
ER -