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SLC1A3

OverviewProducts

Domain

Contains eight transmembrane regions plus two helical hairpins that dip into the membrane. These helical hairpin structures play an important role in the transport process. The first enters the membrane from the cytoplasmic side, the second one from the extracellular side. During the transport cycle, the regions involved in amino acid transport, and especially the helical hairpins, move vertically by about 15-18 Angstroms, alternating between exposure to the aqueous phase and reinsertion in the lipid bilayer. In contrast, the regions involved in trimerization do not move.

Function

Sodium-dependent, high-affinity amino acid transporter that mediates the uptake of L-glutamate and also L-aspartate and D-aspartate (PubMed:7521911, PubMed:8123008, PubMed:20477940, PubMed:26690923, PubMed:28032905, PubMed:28424515). Functions as a symporter that transports one amino acid molecule together with two or three Na(+) ions and one proton, in parallel with the counter-transport of one K(+) ion (PubMed:20477940). Mediates Cl(-) flux that is not coupled to amino acid transport; this avoids the accumulation of negative charges due to aspartate and Na(+) symport (PubMed:20477940). Plays a redundant role in the rapid removal of released glutamate from the synaptic cleft, which is essential for terminating the postsynaptic action of glutamate (By similarity).

Involvement in disease

Episodic ataxia 6

EA6

A disorder characterized by episodic ataxia, seizures, migraine and alternating hemiplegia.

None

The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry.

Post-translational modifications

Glycosylated.

Sequence similarities

Belongs to the dicarboxylate/amino acid:cation symporter (DAACS) (TC 2.A.23) family. SLC1A3 subfamily.

Tissue specificity

Detected in brain (PubMed:8218410, PubMed:7521911, PubMed:8123008). Detected at very much lower levels in heart, lung, placenta and skeletal muscle (PubMed:7521911, PubMed:8123008). Highly expressed in cerebellum, but also found in frontal cortex, hippocampus and basal ganglia (PubMed:7521911).

Cellular localization

  • Cell membrane
  • Multi-pass membrane protein

Alternative names

  • Excitatory amino acid transporter 1
  • Sodium-dependent glutamate/aspartate transporter 1
  • Solute carrier family 1 member 3
  • GLAST-1
  • SLC1A3
  • EAAT1
  • GLAST
  • GLAST1

Database links

Target type

Proteins

Primary research area

Neuroscience

Molecular weight

59572Da