SLC1A7
SLC1A7, also known as EAAT5 or excitatory amino acid transporter 5, is a sodium-dependent, high-affinity transporter of L-glutamate that also acts as a glutamate-gated chloride channel. It contributes to inhibitory signalling in the retina. Browse Assay Genie's current range of SLC1A7 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
SLC1A7 is a sodium-dependent, high-affinity amino acid transporter that mediates uptake of L-glutamate, and also L-aspartate and D-aspartate. As a symporter, it moves one amino acid molecule together with two or three Na(+) ions and one proton, in parallel with counter-transport of one K(+) ion. It also behaves as an inhibitory glutamate-gated chloride channel: glutamate binding gates a large Cl(-) conductance that mediates inhibition. This makes it a major inhibitory presynaptic receptor at mammalian rod bipolar cell axon terminals, where it affects visual processing in the retina.
The SLC1A7 gene encodes a member of the dicarboxylate/amino acid:cation symporter (DAACS) family, in the SLC1A7 subfamily, within HGNC's solute carrier family 1 group. UniProt lists the protein in the photoreceptor inner segment membrane and the synaptic cell membrane. NCBI Gene describes it as enabling glutamate:sodium symporter activity and involved in neurotransmitter uptake, and predicts it to be located in the photoreceptor cell terminal bouton and active at glutamatergic synapses, in both presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes. The mouse ortholog is Slc1a7.
The protein is known as excitatory amino acid transporter 5 (EAAT5), and the gene was previously named solute carrier family 1 (glutamate transporter), member 7. Researchers studying SLC1A7 or the EAAT5 protein often compare it with other family members such as SLC1A1, SLC1A2 and SLC1A3, to understand how glutamate transport and chloride conductance are divided among transporters of this family.
SLC1A7 gates a glutamate-activated chloride conductance at rod bipolar cell terminals, affecting visual processing in the retina.
It mediates high-affinity, sodium-dependent uptake of L-glutamate, L-aspartate and D-aspartate, making it relevant to neurotransmitter uptake.
As an inhibitory presynaptic glutamate-gated chloride channel, SLC1A7 helps define how glutamatergic synapses are regulated.
Its coupling of amino acid uptake to Na(+) and H(+) symport with K(+) counter-transport is a model for DAACS family mechanisms.
SLC1A7 is a sodium-dependent, high-affinity transporter that takes up L-glutamate, L-aspartate and D-aspartate. It also acts primarily as an inhibitory glutamate-gated chloride channel, where glutamate binding gates a large Cl(-) conductance at rod bipolar cell axon terminals, affecting retinal visual processing.
SLC1A7 is also called EAAT5 and excitatory amino acid transporter 5. HGNC gives the full name as solute carrier family 1 member 7; the previous name was solute carrier family 1 (glutamate transporter), member 7. The protein belongs to the DAACS family, SLC1A7 subfamily.
A mouse ortholog, Slc1a7, is recorded for the human gene. The protein belongs to the conserved DAACS (TC 2.A.23) transporter family. For experimental work, check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other solute carrier family 1 members, glutamate transporters and neuronal transporters with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O00341; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.