Synaptic transmission involves the controlled exocytosis of vesicles containing specific neurotransmitters. Usually, neurotransmitters are synthesized in the cytoplasm of the cell and must be transported into synaptic vesicles for release. The vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) is responsible for loading gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter, from neuronal cytoplasm into synaptic vesicles and is expressed only in the nerve endings of inhibitory neurons that contain GABA and/or glycine. During neocortical development, VGAT expression barely precedes the maturation of inhibitory synaptogenesis, suggesting that it may contribute to the development of neocortical GABAergic circuitry. VGAT may also play a role in epileptogenesis and the recovery mechanisms that occur after a spontaneous seizure
Function:
Involved in the uptake of GABA and glycine into the synaptic vesicles.
Subcellular Location:
Cytoplasmic vesicle membrane; Multi-pass membrane protein.
Tissue Specificity:
Retina. Expressed throughout the horizontal cells or more specifically at the terminals.
Similarity:
Belongs to the amino acid/polyamine transporter 2 family.
SWISS:
Q9H598
Gene ID:
140679
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 140679 Human
Entrez Gene: 22348 Mouse
Entrez Gene: 83612 Rat
SwissProt: Q9H598 Human
SwissProt: O35633 Mouse
SwissProt: O35458 Rat
Unigene: 179080 Human
Unigene: 143404 Mouse
Unigene: 413854 Mouse
Unigene: 10846 Rat
|
|
