<unk> s are a family of neurotransmitter transporter proteins that move<unk> amate – the principal excitatory neurotransmitter – across a membrane. The family of<unk> s is composed of two primary subclasses: the excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT) family and vesicular<unk>  (VGLUT) family. In the brain, EAATs remove<unk> amate from the synaptic cleft and extrasynaptic sites via<unk> amate reuptake into glial cells and neurons, while VGLUTs move<unk> amate from the cell cytoplasm into synaptic vesicles.<unk> s also transport aspartate and are present in virtually all peripheral tissues, including the heart, liver, testes, and bone. They exhibit stereoselectivity for L-glutamate but transport both L-aspartate and D-aspartate. The EAATs are membrane-bound secondary transporters that superficially resemble ion channels. These transporters play the important role of regulating concentrations of<unk> amate in the extracellular space by transporting it along with other ions across cellular membranes. After<unk> amate is released as the result of an action potential,<unk> s quickly remove it from the extracellular space to keep its levels low, thereby terminating the synaptic transmission. Without the activity of<unk> s,<unk> amate would build up and kill cells in a process called excitotoxicity, in which excessive amounts of<unk> amate acts as a toxin to neurons by triggering a number of biochemical cascades. The activity of<unk> s also allows<unk> amate to be recycled for repeated release.
Glutamate transporter
Norepinephrine transporter
Neurotransmitter transporter
Vesicular monoamine transporter
Vesicular monoamine transporter 1
Mechanosensitive channels
Thiamine transporter 1
Cyclic nucleotide–gated ion channel