Molecular cloning and expression of the rat EAAT4 glutamate transporter subtype

Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1998 Dec 10;63(1):174-9. doi: 10.1016/s0169-328x(98)00256-3.

Abstract

Glutamate transport is a primary mechanism for the synaptic inactivation of glutamate. Excitatory amino acid transporter 4 (EAAT4) is a novel glutamate transporter with properties of a ligand-gated chloride channel that was recently cloned from human brain. Here we report the cloning of rat EAAT4 (rEAAT4) cDNA from rat cerebellum. The nucleotide sequence of rEAAT4 was 88% identical to the human sequence, and the predicted peptide was 89% identical to the human protein. The transport activity encoded by rEAAT4 has high affinity for L-glutamate. In Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing rEAAT4, L-glutamate and other transporter substrates elicited a current predominantly carried by chloride ions. Like human EAAT4, the rEAAT4 mRNA was largely restricted to cerebellar Purkinje cells; the rEAAT4 protein was localized to Purkinje cell somas and dendrites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Transport System X-AG*
  • Animals
  • Chloride Channels / genetics*
  • Chloride Channels / metabolism
  • Chlorides / metabolism
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Electrophysiology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 4
  • Gene Expression / physiology
  • Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Glutamic Acid / pharmacology
  • Ion Channel Gating / drug effects
  • Ligands
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Membrane Potentials / physiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oocytes / physiology
  • Purkinje Cells / chemistry*
  • Purkinje Cells / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Glutamate / genetics*
  • Receptors, Glutamate / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Symporters*
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • Amino Acid Transport System X-AG
  • Chloride Channels
  • Chlorides
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 4
  • Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Glutamate
  • Slc1a6 protein, rat
  • Symporters
  • Glutamic Acid