How did the neurotransmitter cross the bilayer? A closer view.
Plasma membrane neurotransmitter transporters for monoamines, GABA, glycine and excitatory amino acids are homologous to two sizable families of bacterial amino acid transporters. Recently, a high resolution structure was determined for a thermophilic glutamate transporter. Also, a bacterial tryptophan transporter related to the family of biogenic amine neurotransmitter transporters was functionally expressed. Structural insights from these and other bacterial transporters will help to rationalize the mechanisms for the increasingly complex functions that have been described for mammalian transporters, in addition to their modes of regulation. We touch on recent insights into the functions of neurotransmitter transporters in their physiological contexts.
Sonders
Mark S
MS
Center for Molecular Recognition and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, P&S 11-401, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Quick
Matthias
M
Javitch
Jonathan A
JA
D000818:Animals; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D040681:Structural Homology, Protein
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents