glutamate:sodium symporter activity

Definition

Target type: molecularfunction

Enables the transfer of a solute or solutes from one side of a membrane to the other according to the reaction: glutamate(out) + Na+(out) = glutamate(in) + Na+(in). [TC:2.A.27.1.1]

Glutamate:sodium symporter activity is a membrane transport process that couples the movement of glutamate and sodium ions across the cell membrane. This process is essential for the uptake of glutamate, a major excitatory neurotransmitter, from the synaptic cleft back into presynaptic neurons. The symporter protein uses the electrochemical gradient of sodium ions to drive the transport of glutamate against its concentration gradient. This process is crucial for maintaining proper neurotransmission and preventing glutamate excitotoxicity, a harmful condition that can occur when glutamate accumulates in the synapse. The symporter protein binds glutamate and sodium ions at specific sites on the protein. The binding of these ions triggers a conformational change in the protein, which allows the ions to be transported across the membrane. This transport process is highly specific for glutamate and sodium ions, and it is regulated by a number of factors, including membrane potential, pH, and the presence of other ions. The activity of glutamate:sodium symporters is critical for proper brain function, and defects in this process can lead to a variety of neurological disorders.'
"

Proteins (3)

Compounds (17)