Mechanism of substrate recognition, membrane potential driven transport of glutamate, and regulation by synaptic vesicle glutamate transporter (VGLUT)

Abstract

The exocytosis of synaptic vesicles filled with neurotransmitter underlies the quantal nature of synaptic transmission. The amount of neurotransmitter packaged into each synaptic vesicle thus influences synaptic strength. Vesicle filling is mediated by vesicular neurotransmitter transporters on the synaptic vesicle and driven by the proton electrochemical gradient (ΔμH+=ΔpH+Δψ). Vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) are responsible for packaging the major excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate.