Neurotransmitter transporters. A novel family of integral plasma membrane proteins.

The re-uptake of neurotransmitters into the nerve terminal terminates synaptic transmission at most central synapses and constitutes a key step in the modulation of synaptic efficacy. Recently, the cloning of several Na(+)-driven neurotransmitter transporters has resulted in the description of a novel family of homologous membrane proteins, each with 12 transmembrane segments. These transporters constitute major targets of widely used drugs, and modulation of transporter gene expression and/or activity may represent an important substrate for plasticity in the nervous system.