Biochemical Society transactions
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Biochem. Soc. Trans. · Feb 2006
ReviewGlycine transporters: essential regulators of synaptic transmission.
Glycine is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS (central nervous system). Glycinergic neurotransmission is terminated by the uptake of glycine into glycinergic nerve terminals and neighbouring glial cells. This uptake process is mediated by specific Na(+)/Cl(-)-dependent GlyTs (glycine transporters), GlyT1 and GlyT2. ⋯ Mice expressing only a single GlyT1 allele are phenotypically normal but may have enhanced NMDAR function. GlyT2 is highly enriched at glycinergic nerve terminals, and Ca(2+)-triggered exocytosis and internalization are thought to regulate GlyT2 numbers in the pre-synaptic plasma membrane. We have identified different interacting proteins that may play a role in GlyT2 trafficking and/or pre-synaptic localization.