Journal Article

FZJ-2025-05016

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Vesicular and plasma membrane glutamate transporters

Borghans, B.FZJ* ; Dmitrieva, N.FZJ* ; Nikiforov, A.FZJ* ; Fahlke, C. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2025
Frontiers Media SA Lausanne

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3389/frbis.2025.1693508  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2025-05016

Abstract: Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian centralnervous system. After exocytotic release from presynaptic nerve terminals,glutamate diffuses across the synaptic cleft and opens postsynaptic ionotropicglutamate receptors, thus depolarizing the postsynaptic neuron. Synaptic activityis terminated by rapid and efficient uptake into surrounding neurons and glialcells. The function of a glutamatergic synapse thus critically depends on twodistinct transport systems: vesicular and plasma membrane glutamatetransporters. Vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) accumulate glutamatein synaptic vesicles and determine the amount of released glutamate. Plasmamembrane glutamate transporters (excitatory amino acid transporters, EAATs)clear the synaptic cleft from glutamate, setting the time resolution and energydemand of glutamatergic synaptic signaling. Both classes of glutamatetransporters are not only secondary-active transporters, but also function aschloride channels, with different roles in chloride and glutamate homeostasis.Despite similar transport functions, VGLUTs and EAATs are structurally diverseand employ different molecular mechanisms to overcome the same chemicalchallenges. We here review recent progress in understanding the molecular andcellular biophysics of vesicular glutamate transporters and compare theirproperties with plasma membrane glutamate transporters.

Note: The author(s) declare that financial support was received for theresearch and/or publication of this article. This work was supportedby the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German ResearchFoundation) to CF (FA 301/13-1) as part of the Research Unit FOR2795 (Synapses under stress).

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Molekular- und Zellphysiologie (IBI-1)

Research Program(s):

1. 5241 - Molecular Information Processing in Cellular Systems (POF4-524) (POF4-524)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)394431587 - FOR 2795: Synapsen unter Stress: akute Veränderungen durch mangelnde Energiezufuhr an glutamatergen Synapsen (394431587) (394431587)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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