System A Transporter SAT2 Mediates Replenishment of Dendritic Glutamate Pools Controlling Retrograde Signaling by Glutamate

What is it about?

In this publication we have shown that System A transporter (SAT2) is primarily localized in dendritic compartments of excitatory neurons, and serves to accumulate high levels of glutamine into the cells. Upon depolarization, this glutamine is readily transformed into glutamate, which is then released from post-synaptic dendrites, supressing inhibitory neurotransmission. We have demonstrated that blocking SAT2 function by MeAIB served to deplete glutamine stores in pyramidal neurons in cortical layer 2/3, blocking glutamate-dependent retrograde transmission onto fast-spiking inhibitory interneurons. Our study showed that SAT2 is a key player in maintaining the glutamate/glutamine balance that controls retrograde signalling in the cortex.

Featured Image