Alternate splicing and expression of the glutamate transporter EAAT5 in the rat retina

Excitatory amino acid transporter 5 (EAAT5) is an unusual glutamate transporter that is expressed in the retina, where it is localised to two populations of glutamatergic neurons, namely the bipolar neurons and photoreceptors. EAAT5 exhibits two distinct properties, acting both as a slow glutamate transporter and as a glutamate-gated inhibitory receptor. The latter property is attributable to a co-associated chloride conductance. EAAT5 has previously been thought to exist only as a full-length form. We now demonstrate by PCR cloning and sequencing, the presence of five novel splice variant forms of EAAT5 which skip either partial or complete exons in the rat retina. Furthermore, we demonstrate that each of these variants is expressed at the protein level as assessed by Western blotting using splice-specific antibodies that we have generated. We conclude that EAAT5 exists in multiple spliced forms, and propose, based upon retention or absence of key structural features, that these variant forms may potentially exhibit distinct properties relative to the originally described form of EAAT5.     

Molecular cloning,gene structure,expression profile and functional characterization of the mouse glutamate transporter (EAAT3) interacting protein GTRAP3-18

Glutamate is an important amino acid implicated in energy metabolism, protein biosynthesis and neurotransmission. The Na(+)-dependent high-affinity excitatory amino acid transporter EAAT3 (EAAC1) facilitates glutamate uptake into most cells. Recently, a novel rat EAAT3-interacting protein called GTRAP3-18 has been identified by a yeast two-hybrid screening. GTRAP3-18 functions as a negative modulator of EAAT3-mediated glutamate transport. In order to further understand the function and regulation of GTRAP3-18, we cloned the mouse orthologue to GTRAP3-18 and determined its gene structure and its expression pattern. GTRAP3-18 encodes a 188-residue hydrophobic protein whose sequence is highly conserved amongst vertebrates. Mouse and human GTRAP3-18 genes contain three exons separated by two introns. The GTRAP3-18 gene is found on mouse chromosome 6D3 and on human chromosome 3p14, a susceptibility locus for cancer and epilepsy. GTRAP3-18 protein and RNA were found both in neuronal rich regions of the brain and in non-neuronal tissues such as the kidney, heart and skeletal muscle. Mouse GTRAP3-18 inhibited EAAT3-mediated glutamate transport in a dose-dependent manner. These studies show that GTRAP3-18 is a ubiquitously expressed protein that functions as a negative regulator of EAAT3 function.     

The discovery of slowness: low-capacity transport and slow anion channel gating by the glutamate transporter EAAT5

Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) control the glutamate concentration in the synaptic cleft by glial and neuronal glutamate uptake. Uphill glutamate transport is achieved by the co-/countertransport of Na⁺ and other ions down their concentration gradients. Glutamate transporters also display an anion conductance that is activated by the binding of Na⁺ and glutamate but is not thermodynamically coupled to the transport process. Of the five known glutamate transporter subtypes, the retina-specific subtype EAAT5 has the largest conductance relative to glutamate uptake activity. Our results suggest that EAAT5 behaves as a slow-gated anion channel with little glutamate transport activity. At steady state, EAAT5 was activated by glutamate, with a K_m= 61 ± 11 μM. Binding of Na⁺ to the empty transporter is associated with a K_m = 229 ± 37 mM, and binding to the glutamate-bound form is associated with a K_m = 76 ± 40 mM. Using laser-pulse photolysis of caged glutamate, we determined the pre-steady-state kinetics of the glutamate-induced anion current of EAAT5. This was characterized by two exponential components with time constants of 30 ± 1 ms and 200 ± 15 ms, which is an order of magnitude slower than those observed in other glutamate transporters. A voltage-jump analysis of the anion currents indicates that the slow activation behavior is caused by two slow, rate-limiting steps in the transport cycle, Na⁺ binding to the empty transporter, and translocation of the fully loaded transporter. We propose a kinetic transport scheme that includes these two slow steps and can account for the experimentally observed data. Overall, our results suggest that EAAT5 may not act as a classical high-capacity glutamate transporter in the retina; rather, it may function as a slow-gated glutamate receptor and/or glutamate buffering system.     

Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin but not retinoic acid reduces EAAT3-mediated glutamate uptake and increases GTRAP3-18 expression

The Na+-dependent glutamate transporter EAAT3 facilitates glutamate uptake into neurons as well as many other cell types. GTRAP3-18 (JWA, Arl6ip5) is a novel protein that interacts with EAAT3 and negatively modulates EAAT3-mediated glutamate uptake. Previous studies suggest that retinoic acid (RA) decreases Na+-dependent glutamate uptake and increases GTRAP3-18 protein expression. However, the RA used in those studies was complexed with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MebetaCD). In the present study we found that MebetaCD, but not RA, significantly reduced Na+-dependent EAAT3-mediated [3H]glutamate uptake in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. MebetaCD also significantly increased GTRAP3-18 protein expression in HEK293 cells as well as in rat hypothalamic neuron cultures. Intracerebroventricular administration of MebetaCD to the mouse brain resulted in a significant increase in GTRAP3-18 immunoreactivity in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. In conclusion, we have shown that MebetaCD reduces EAAT3-mediated glutamate uptake and induces the expression of GTRAP3-18 protein.     

Functional Properties of the Retinal Glutamate Transporters GLT-1c and EAAT5

In the mammalian retina, glutamate uptake is mediated by members of a family of glutamate transporters known as “excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs).” Here we cloned and functionally characterized two retinal EAATs from mouse, the GLT-1/EAAT2 splice variant GLT-1c, and EAAT5. EAATs are glutamate transporters and anion-selective ion channels, and we used heterologous expression in mammalian cells, patch-clamp recordings and noise analysis to study and compare glutamate transport and anion channel properties of both EAAT isoforms. We found GLT-1c to be an effective glutamate transporter with high affinity for Na⁺ and glutamate that resembles original GLT-1/EAAT2 in all tested functional aspects. EAAT5 exhibits glutamate transport rates too low to be accurately measured in our experimental system, with significantly lower affinities for Na⁺ and glutamate than GLT-1c. Non-stationary noise analysis demonstrated that GLT-1c and EAAT5 also differ in single-channel current amplitudes of associated anion channels. Unitary current amplitudes of EAAT5 anion channels turned out to be approximately twice as high as single-channel amplitudes of GLT-1c. Moreover, at negative potentials open probabilities of EAAT5 anion channels were much larger than for GLT-1c. Our data illustrate unique functional properties of EAAT5, being a low-affinity and low-capacity glutamate transport system, with an anion channel optimized for anion conduction in the negative voltage range.     

Neuronal glutamate transporters vary in substrate transport rate but not in unitary anion channel conductance

Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) not only sustain a secondary active glutamate transport but also function as anion-selective ion channels. The relative proportion of currents generated by glutamate transport or by the chloride conductance varies for each cloned EAAT subtype. For EAAT1, EAAT2, and EAAT3, the anion current is only a small component of the total transporter-associated current amplitude, whereas EAAT4 and EAAT5 transporters mediate predominantly anion currents. We here demonstrate that the distinct current proportions are entirely due to differences in glutamate transport rates. EAAT3 and EAAT4 differ in unitary glutamate transport rates as well as in the voltage and substrate dependence of anion channel opening, but ion conduction properties are very similar. Noise analysis revealed identical unitary current amplitudes and similar absolute open probabilities for the two anion channels. The low glutamate transport rate of EAAT4 allows regulation of cellular excitability without interfering with extracellular glutamate homeostasis and makes this EAAT isoform ideally suited to regulate excitability in dendritic spines of Purkinje neurons.     

Water and urea permeation pathways of the human excitatory amino acid transporter EAAT1

Glutamate transport is coupled to the co-transport of 3 Na(+) and 1 H(+) followed by the counter-transport of 1 K(+). In addition, glutamate and Na(+) binding to glutamate transporters generates an uncoupled anion conductance. The human glial glutamate transporter EAAT1 (excitatory amino acid transporter 1) also allows significant passive and active water transport, which suggests that water permeation through glutamate transporters may play an important role in glial cell homoeostasis. Urea also permeates EAAT1 and has been used to characterize the permeation properties of the transporter. We have previously identified a series of mutations that differentially affect either the glutamate transport process or the substrate-activated channel function of EAAT1. The water and urea permeation properties of wild-type EAAT1 and two mutant transporters were measured to identify which permeation pathway facilitates the movement of these molecules. We demonstrate that there is a significant rate of L-glutamate-stimulated passive and active water transport. Both the passive and active L-glutamate-stimulated water transport is most closely associated with the glutamate transport process. In contrast, L-glutamate-stimulated [(14)C]urea permeation is associated with the anion channel of the transporter. However, there is also likely to be a transporter-specific, but glutamate independent, flux of water via the anion channel.     

Localization and expression of the glutamate transporter,excitatory amino acid transporter 4, within astrocytes of the rat retina

Mechanisms for the removal of glutamate are vital for maintaining normal function of the retina. Five excitatory amino acid transporters have been characterized to date from neuronal tissue, all of which are expressed within the retina except excitatory amino acid transporter 4 (EAAT4). In this study we examined the expression and localization of the glutamate transporter EAAT4 in the rat retina using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. RT-PCR using rat EAAT4 specific primers revealed a prominent 296-bp product in the retina, cortex and cerebellum. The identity of the EAAT4 fragment was confirmed by DNA sequencing. We examined the tissue expression levels of EAAT4 in cortex, retina and cerebellum using real-time PCR. The highest expression level was found in the cerebellum. Expression in the cortex was approximately 3.1% that of the cerebellum and the retina was found to have approximately 0.8% the total cerebellar EAAT4 content. In order to examine the specific cell types within the retina that express EAAT4, we performed immunocytochemistry using a rat EAAT4 specific antiserum. Cellular processes within the nerve fibre layer of the retina were intensely labelled for EAAT4. Double labelling EAAT4 with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) revealed extensive colocalization indicating that EAAT4 is localized within astrocytes within the retina. Double labelling of EAAT4 and the glutamate transporter EAAT1 (GLAST) revealed extensive colocalization suggesting that astrocytes in the retina express at least two types of glutamate transporters. These results suggest that astrocytes within the retina are well placed to provide mechanisms for glutamate removal as well as controlling cellular excitability.This work was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (Grant #208950) and Retina Australia.     

Limited Energy Supply in Müller Cells Alters Glutamate Uptake

The viability of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) is essential for the maintenance of visual function. RGC homeostasis is maintained by the surrounding retinal glial cells, the Müller cells, which buffer the extracellular concentration of neurotransmitters and provide the RGCs with energy. This study evaluates if glucose-deprivation of Müller cells interferes with their ability to remove glutamate from the extracellular space. The human Müller glial cell line, Moorfields/Institute of Ophthalmology-Müller 1, was used to study changes in glutamate uptake. Excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT) proteins were up-regulated in glucose-deprived Müller cells and glutamate uptake was significantly increased in the absence of glucose. The present findings revealed an up-regulation of EAAT1 and EAAT2 in glucose-deprived Müller cells as well as an increased ability to take up glutamate. Hence, glucose deprivation may result in an increased ability to protect RGCs from glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, whereas malfunction of glutamate uptake in Müller cells may contribute to retinal neurodegeneration.     

A Conserved Aspartate Determines Pore Properties of Anion Channels Associated with Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 4 (EAAT4)

Excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT) glutamate transporters function not only as secondary active glutamate transporters but also as anion channels. Recently, a conserved aspartic acid (Asp¹¹²) within the intracellular loop near to the end of transmembrane domain 2 was proposed as a major determinant of substrate-dependent gating of the anion channel associated with the glial glutamate transporter EAAT1. We studied the corresponding mutation (D117A) in another EAAT isoform, EAAT4, using heterologous expression in mammalian cells, whole cell patch clamp, and noise analysis. In EAAT4, D117A modifies unitary conductances, relative anion permeabilities, as well as gating of associated anion channels. EAAT4 anion channel gating is characterized by two voltage-dependent gating processes with inverse voltage dependence. In wild type EAAT4, external l-glutamate modifies the voltage dependence as well as the minimum open probabilities of both gates, resulting in concentration-dependent changes of the number of open channels. Not only transport substrates but also anions affect wild type EAAT4 channel gating. External anions increase the open probability and slow down relaxation constants of one gating process that is activated by depolarization. D117A abolishes the anion and glutamate dependence of EAAT4 anion currents and shifts the voltage dependence of EAAT4 anion channel activation by more than 200 mV to more positive potentials. D117A is the first reported mutation that changes the unitary conductance of an EAAT anion channel. The finding that mutating a pore-forming residue modifies gating illustrates the close linkage between pore conformation and voltage- and substrate-dependent gating in EAAT4 anion channels.     

Expression of PACAP and glutamate transporter proteins in satellite oligodendrocytes of the human CNS

White matter oligodendrocytes have been shown to actively regulate extracellular glutamate levels in the CNS. Such function has yet not been examined in satellite oligodendrocytes of gray matter. Similar to those in white matter, satellite oligodendrocytes are involved in myelination. In addition, they modulate the activity of surrounding neurons. This study examined whether satellite oligodendrocytes express PACAP and glutamate transporter proteins and whether this expression is influenced by global ischemia. We demonstrated expression of PACAP27 and PACAP38 in a major fraction of satellite oligodendrocytes in normal neocortex and hippocampus of human brain tissues obtained post-mortem. All three glutamate transporters EAAT1, EAAT2 and EAAT3 were expressed in satellite oligodendrocytes from these tissues. Thus, satellite oligodendrocytes may participate in the perineuronal glutamate homeostasis. Following transient global ischemia, the total number of satellite oligodendrocytes expressing PACAP or glutamate transporter proteins was significantly decreased in cerebral neocortex and hippocampus. However, alterations of PACAP and glutamate transporter protein expression were region and time specific. In satellite oligodendrocytes of CA1 an early strong reduction of PACAP and glutamate transporter expression was observed. This contrasted with late reduction of PACAP27, PACAP38 and glutamate transporters EAAT1, EAAT2 and EAAT3 in satellite oligodendrocytes of neocortex. Further studies should clarify whether these alterations in protein expression are primary or secondary to neuronal cell death.     

岗田酸诱导大鼠脑神经细胞表达谷氨酸转运体EAAT1

为研究tau蛋白高度磷酸化与谷氨酸转运体功能之间的关系,实验采用免疫组织化学、荧光双标记技术及大鼠额叶皮质定位注射的方法,观察了蛋白磷酸酶抑制剂岗田酸（okadaic acid,OA)所致神经细胞退化对谷氨酸转运体亚型EAAT1表达的影响。结果如下：（1）在OA注射中心区神经元早期出现胞体固缩、肿胀、核移位,在注射3d时细胞破碎,发生坏死,并有大量炎性细胞浸润等病理现象;边周区细胞呈AT8（微管相关蛋白tau磷酸化指标）免疫阳性反应;（2）OA首先诱导神经细胞突起远端tau蛋白磷酸化,并逐渐向胞体发展,形成营养不良的神经细胞突起和神经纤维缠结样病理改变;（3）AT8免疫阳性反应脑区的神经细胞高表达谷氨酸转运体EAAT1,在12h阳性表达细胞数显著增多（P＜0．01）,1d时达峰值（P＜0．001）,3d时明显减少。在OA作用下EAAT1表达于星形胶质细胞和神经元。结果提示,OA致微管相关蛋白tau高度磷酸化时可诱导该区星形胶质细胞和神经元高表达谷氨酸转体EAAT1。EAAT1高表达的病理生理意义有待进一步的阐明。     

Association of excitatory amino acid transporters, especially EAAT2, with cholesterol-rich lipid raft microdomains: importance for excitatory amino acid transporter localization and function

In the present study, we investigated the role of membrane cholesterol in the function of glutamate transporters. Depletion of membrane cholesterol by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin resulted in reduced Na(+)-dependent glutamate uptake in primary cortical cultures. Glial glutamate transporter EAAT2-mediated uptake was more sensitive to this effect. Cell surface biotinylation and immunostaining experiments revealed that the loss of cholesterol significantly altered the trafficking of EAAT2 to the plasma membrane as well as their membrane distribution. These effects were also observed in neuronal glutamate transporter EAAT3 but to a lesser extent. Furthermore, the treatment of mouse brain plasma membrane vesicles with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin resulted in a significant reduction in glutamate uptake, suggesting that cholesterol depletion has a direct effect on the function of the glutamate transporters. Plasma membrane cholesterol is localized within discreet microdomains known as lipid rafts. Analyses of purified lipid raft microdomains revealed that a large portion of total EAAT2 and a minor portion of total EAAT1, EAAT3, and EAAT4 were associated with lipid rafts. Artificial aggregation of lipid rafts in vivo resulted in the formation of larger EAAT2-immunoreactive clusters on the cell surface. The purified lipid raft-associated fractions were capable of Na(+)-dependent glutamate uptake. Our data suggest that the glutamate transporters, especially EAAT2, are associated with cholesterol-rich lipid raft microdomains of the plasma membrane and that the association with these cholesterol-rich microdomains is important for excitatory amino acid transporter localization and function.     

Structure-activity relationship study of pyridazine derivatives as glutamate transporter EAAT2 activators

Excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) is the major glutamate transporter and functions to remove glutamate from synapses. A thiopyridazine derivative has been found to increase EAAT2 protein levels in astrocytes. A structure-activity relationship study revealed that several components of the molecule were required for activity, such as the thioether and pyridazine. Modification of the benzylthioether resulted in several derivatives (7-13, 7-15 and 7-17) that enhanced EAAT2 levels by >6-fold at concentrations < 5 μM after 24h. In addition, one of the derivatives (7-22) enhanced EAAT2 levels 3.5-3.9-fold after 24h with an EC(50) of 0.5 μM.     

Thrombin-stimulated glutamate uptake in human platelets is predominantly mediated by the glial glutamate transporter EAAT2

Glutamate toxicity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases. Glial glutamate transporters play a key role in the regulation of extracellular glutamate levels in the brain by removing glutamate from the extracellular fluid. Since human blood platelets possess an active glutamate uptake system, they have been used as a peripheral model of glutamate transport in the central nervous system (CNS). The present study is aimed at identifying the glutamate transporter on blood platelets, and to asses the influence of platelet activation on glutamate uptake. Platelets from healthy donors showed Na+-dependent glutamate uptake (Km, 3.5+/-0.9 microM; Vmax, 2.8+/-0.2 pmol glutamate/75 x 10(6)platelets/30 min), which could be blocked dose-dependently by the EAAT specific inhibitors DL-threo-E-benzyloxyaspartate (TBOA), L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (tPDC) and high concentrations of the EAAT2 inhibitor dihydrokainate (DHK). Analysis of platelet homogenates on Western blots showed EAAT2 as the predominant glutamate transporter. Platelet activation by thrombin caused an increase in glutamate uptake, which could be inhibited by TBOA and the EAAT2 inhibitor DHK. Kinetic analysis showed recruitment of new transporters to the membrane. Indeed, Western blot analysis of subcellular fractions revealed that alpha-granules, which fuse with the membrane upon thrombin stimulation, contained significant EAAT2 immunoreactivity. Inhibition of the second messengers involved in alpha-granule secretion (protein kinase C, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase) inhibited thrombin-stimulated uptake, but not basal uptake. These data show that the glial EAAT2 is the predominant glutamate transporter on blood platelets and suggest, that thrombin increases glutamate uptake capacity by recruiting new transporters (EAAT2) from alpha-granules.     

Glutamate transporter type 3 knockout leads to decreased heart rate possibly via parasympathetic mechanism

Parasympathetic tone is a dominant neural regulator for basal heart rate. Glutamate transporters (EAAT) via their glutamate uptake functions regulate glutamate neurotransmission in the central nervous system. We showed that EAAT type 3 (EAAT3) knockout mice had a slower heart rate than wild-type mice when they were anesthetized. We design this study to determine whether non-anesthetized EAAT3 knockout mice have a slower heart rate and, if so, what may be the mechanism for this effect. Young adult EAAT3 knockout mice had slower heart rates than those of their littermate wild-type mice no matter whether they were awake or anesthetized. This difference was abolished by atropine, a parasympatholytic drug. Carbamylcholine chloride, a parasympathomimetic drug, equally effectively reduced the heart rates of wild-type and EAAT3 knockout mice. Positive immunostaining for EAAT3 was found in the area of nuclei deriving fibers for vagus nerve. There was no positive staining for the EAATs in the sinoatrial node. These results suggest that EAAT3 knockout mice have a slower heart rate at rest. This effect may be caused by an increased parasympathetic tone possibly due to increased glutamate neurotransmission in the central nervous system. These findings indicate that regulation of heart rate, a vital sign, is one of the EAAT biological functions.     

Preconditioning with cortical spreading depression decreases intraischemic cerebral glutamate levels and down-regulates excitatory amino acid transporters EAAT1 and EAAT2 from rat cerebal cortex plasma membranes

We previously reported a 50% reduction in cortical infarct volume following transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats preconditioned 3 days earlier with cortical spreading depression (CSD). The mechanism of the protective effect of prior CSD remains unknown. Recent studies demonstrate reversal of excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) to be a principal cause for elevated extracellular glutamate levels during cerebral ischemia. The present study measured the effect of CSD preconditioning on (a) intraischemic glutamate levels and (b) regulation of glutamate transporters within the ischemic cortex of the rat. Three days following either CSD or sham preconditioning, rats were subjected to 200 min of focal cerebral ischemia, and extracellular glutamate concentration was measured by in vivo microdialysis. Cortical glutamate exposure decreased 70% from 1,772.4 +/- 1,469.2 microM-min in sham-treated (n = 8) to 569.0 +/- 707.8 microM-min in CSD-treated (n = 13) rats (p <0.05). The effect of CSD preconditioning on glutamate transporter levels in plasma membranes (PMs) prepared from rat cerebral cortex was assessed by western blot analysis. Down-regulation of the glial glutamate transporter isoforms EAAT2 and EAAT1 from the PM fraction was observed at 1, 3, and 7 days but not at 0 or 21 days after CSD. Semiquantitative lane analysis showed a maximal decrease of 90% for EAAT2 and 50% for EAAT1 at 3 days post-CSD. The neuronal isoform EAAT3 was unaffected by CSD. This period of down-regulation coincides with the time frame reported for induced ischemic tolerance. These data are consistent with reversal of glutamate transporter function contributing to glutamate release during ischemia and suggest that down-regulation of these transporters may contribute to ischemic tolerance induced by CSD.