Structural basis for selective inhibition of human GABA transporter GAT3.

ABSTRACT: The astrocytic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter, GAT3, is essential for terminating GABAergic signaling in the central nervous system. Selective inhibition of GAT3 offers a potential strategy for elevating extracellular GABA levels for the treatment of neurological disorders including epilepsy. However, few potent and selective GAT3 inhibitors have been developed, and their mechanisms of inhibition remain poorly understood. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structures of full-length, wild-type human GAT3, hGAT3, bound to a selective inhibitor, to substrate GABA, or in substrate-free state. hGAT3 bound to the inhibitor or in the substrate-free state exhibits an inward-open conformation. The inhibitor binds within the intracellular permeation pathway, positioned between tra

SUBMITTER: Mortensen JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12916826 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature