Nonvesicular release of glutamate by glial xCT transporters suppresses glutamate receptor clustering in vivo.

ABSTRACT: We hypothesized that cystine/glutamate transporters (xCTs) might be critical regulators of ambient extracellular glutamate levels in the nervous system and that misregulation of this glutamate pool might have important neurophysiological and/or behavioral consequences. To test this idea, we identified and functionally characterized a novel Drosophila xCT gene, which we subsequently named "genderblind" (gb). Genderblind is expressed in a previously overlooked subset of peripheral and central glia. Genetic elimination of gb causes a 50% reduction in extracellular glutamate concentration, demonstrating that xCT transporters are important regulators of extracellular glutamate. Consistent with previous studies showing that extracellular glutamate regulates postsynaptic glutamate receptor cluste

SUBMITTER: Augustin H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2193629 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature