Vesicular glutamate transporters 1 and 2 target to functionally distinct synaptic release sites

Science. 2004 Jun 18;304(5678):1815-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1097468. Epub 2004 Apr 29.

Abstract

Vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) 1 and 2 show a mutually exclusive distribution in the adult brain that suggests specialization for synapses with different properties of release. Consistent with this distribution, inactivation of the VGLUT1 gene silenced a subset of excitatory neurons in the adult. However, the same cell populations exhibited VGLUT1-independent transmission early in life. Developing hippocampal neurons transiently coexpressed VGLUT2 and VGLUT1 at distinct synaptic sites with different short-term plasticity. The loss of VGLUT1 also reduced the reserve pool of synaptic vesicles. Thus, VGLUT1 plays an unanticipated role in membrane trafficking at the nerve terminal.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • Cerebellum / ultrastructure
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / ultrastructure
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Membrane Transport Proteins*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Purkinje Cells / physiology
  • Pyramidal Cells / metabolism
  • Synapses / metabolism*
  • Synapses / ultrastructure
  • Synaptic Transmission*
  • Synaptic Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Synaptic Vesicles / physiology
  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1
  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Slc17a6 protein, mouse
  • Slc17a7 protein, mouse
  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1
  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • Glutamic Acid