Human high affinity, Na +-dependent l-glutamate/ l-aspartate transporter GLAST-1 (EAAT-1) : gene structure and localization to chromosome 5p11-p12

The gene of the human l-glutamate transporter hGLAST-1 (EAAT-1) has been isolated and characterized. The 1626 bp cDNA open reading frame (542 aa) is distributed over ten exons and at least 85 kb on chromosome 5p11-p12. The gene is unrelated to any other previously described neurotransmitter transporter gene family, but its exon/intron structure corresponds largely to that of the Na +-dependent neutral amino acid transporter ASCT-1. GLAST-1, ASCT-1 and the glutamate transporters GLT-1 and EAAC-1 have strongly similar amino acid sequences. The l-glutamate transporter gene structures might help to understand the correlation of l-glutamate reuptake in neurodegenerative disorders.