Neurotransmitter Transporters

Abstract

AbstractNeurotransmitter transporters belong to the superfamily of solute carrier. Transporters regulate transmitter levels in the extracellular space and in transmitter‐containing vesiclesby controlling the movement of transmitter between various intracellular andextracellular compartments in brain. This function is achieved in part by coupling the movement of transmitter against its concentration gradient to the movement of associated ions down their electrochemical gradients. Disruption of the normal transport process isassociated with a variety of brain disorders including Alzheimer's disease, depression, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and substance abuse. Moreover, some transportersin this gene family are primary targets of potent psychoactive drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine, and antidepressants. Neurons and glia have multiple mechanisms by which they control transporter expression and function on a variety of time scales. This regulation is not only important for understanding the role of transporters in physiological and pathological processes, but may provide mechanistic targets for therapeutics aimed at disorders related to abnormal transmitter levels.