GAT3: Proteins and Enzymes

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, causing a hyperpolarization of the membrane through the opening of a Cl negative channel associated with the GABAA receptor (GABAA-R) subtype. GABA plasma membrane transporters (GATs) influence synaptic neurotransmission by high-affinity uptake and release of GABA. To date, four distinct GABA transporters have been identified: GAT-1, GAT-2, GAT-3, and BGT-1. GAT-3 has been found to be localized to astrocytes within the cerebral cortex indicating that this transporter mediates GABA uptake into glial cells (Minelli et al., 1996).