Sodium-dependent, high-affinity amino acid transporter that mediates the uptake of L-glutamate and also L-aspartate and D-aspartate (  , ). Functions as a symporter that transports one amino acid molecule together with two or three Na(+) ions and one proton, in parallel with the counter-transport of one K(+) ion . Mediates Cl(-) flux that is not coupled to amino acid transport; this avoids the accumulation of negative charges due to aspartate and Na(+) symport . Plays a redundant role in the rapid removal of released glutamate from the synaptic cleft, which is essential for terminating the postsynaptic action of glutamate (By similarity).
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane
Detected in brain ( ). Detected at very much lower levels in heart, lung, placenta and skeletal muscle (, ). Highly expressed in cerebellum, but also found in frontal cortex, hippocampus and basal ganglia .