VGLUT 1 (vesicular glutamate transporter 1, BNPI, SLC17A7)

Glutamate transporter in the membrane of synaptic vesicles

General Information

The vesicular glutamate transporter 1 VGLUT 1, also referred to as BNPI and SLC17A7, was originally identified as a brain specific phosphate transporter. Like the related VGLUT 2, VGLUT 1 is both necessary and sufficient for uptake and storage of glutamate and thus comprises the sole determinant for a glutamatergic phenotype. Both VGLUTs are different from the plasma membrane transporters in that they are driven by a proton electrochemical gradient across the vesicle membrane.
VGLUT 1 and VGLUT 2 show complementary expression patterns. Together, they are currently the best markers for glutamatergic nerve terminals and glutamatergic synapses.