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Publications in Scientific Journals:

H. Sitte, G. Schütz, M. Freissmuth:
"Cooperativity between individual transporter protomers: new data fuelling old complexes";
Journal of Neurochemistry, 133 (2015), 163 - 166.



English abstract:
Monoamine neurotransmitter transporters of the SLC6 family
retrieve previously released neurotransmitters from the
synaptic cleft (Kristensen et al. 2011). Thus, these transporters
shape synaptic transmission, because their activity
controls both the level of the neurotransmitter in the synapse
and the size of the vesicular pool. The monoamines
dopamine norepinephrine and serotonin affect brain function
via volume transmission: a small number of neurons
elaborate extensive axonal arborizations and project diffusely
to large territories. This allows for tuning of wired transmission.
Accordingly, monoamine transporters can be targeted
by both approved and illicit drugs to modulate the brain
(Kristensen et al. 2011): selective (e.g. reboxetine and
citalopram) and non-selective reuptake inhibitors (e.g. imipramine,
venlafaxin, bupropion; Kristensen et al. 2011) are
effective antidepressants. In addition, SLC6 family members
also retrieve amino acids involved in wired transmission, i.e.
glycine and GABA (Kristensen et al. 2011). These transporters
can also be targeted by drugs, e.g. the GABA
transporter 1 (GAT1) by the inhibitor tiagabine (Iversen
2000) as second-line treatment of epilepsy.

Created from the Publication Database of the Vienna University of Technology.