Good riddance to dopamine: roles for the dopamine transporter in synaptic function and dopamine-associated brain disorders.
The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) plays a critical role in CNS circuits that provide for attention, executive function, reward responses, motivation and movement. DA is inactivated by the cocaine- and amphetamine-sensitive DA transporter (DAT), a protein that also provides a pathway for non-vesicular DA release. After a brief review of DAT function and psychostimulant actions, we consider the importance DAT in relation to the distinct firing patterns of DA neurons that permit awareness of novelty and reward. Finally, we review recent efforts to gather direct support for DAT-linked disorders, with a specific focus on DAT mutations recently identified in subjects with ADHD.
Vanderbilt International Scholars Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-8548, United States; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-8548, United States.
Raajaram
R
Gowrishankar
Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-8548, United States; Department of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-8548, United States.
Maureen K
MK
Hahn
Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-8548, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-8548, United States. Electronic address: randy.blakely@vanderbilt.edu.
Randy D
RD
Blakely
D000818:Animals; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D004298:Dopamine
ADHD; Amphetamine; Dopamine; Genetics; Transporter