Glutamate transporter
Glutamate Transporter
Glutamate Transporters (pronunciation: gloo-tuh-meyt trans-pawr-ter) are a type of protein that facilitate the transport of glutamate across the cell membrane. They play a crucial role in the central nervous system, where they help to regulate the concentration of glutamate, an important neurotransmitter.
Etymology
The term "Glutamate Transporter" is derived from the name of the molecule it transports, glutamate, and the function it performs, transport. Glutamate is derived from the Latin word 'glutinare', meaning to glue together, and the suffix '-ate' indicating a salt or ester of an acid. The term 'transporter' comes from the Latin 'transportare', meaning to carry across.
Function
Glutamate transporters are responsible for the uptake of glutamate from the synaptic cleft into glial cells and neurons. This process is essential for maintaining the balance of glutamate in the brain and preventing neurotoxicity.
Types
There are five known types of glutamate transporters in humans: EAAT1, EAAT2, EAAT3, EAAT4, and EAAT5. Each type is encoded by a different gene and has a unique distribution and function within the brain.
Related Terms
- Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters (EAATs): The family of transporters to which glutamate transporters belong.
- Glutamate: The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, which glutamate transporters help to regulate.
- Neurotoxicity: A potential consequence of excessive glutamate in the brain, which glutamate transporters help to prevent.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Glutamate transporter
- Wikipedia's article - Glutamate transporter
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski