Review
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 28, 2005; 11(12): 1731-1736
Published online Mar 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i12.1731
Molecular physiology of vesicular glutamate transporters in the digestive system
Tao Li, Fayez K. Ghishan, Liqun Bai
Tao Li, Fayez K. Ghishan, Liqun Bai, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Steele Memorial Children’s Research Center, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Grant R01-DK063142 and R01-DK33209
Correspondence to: Liqun Bai, M.D., Research Assistant Professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Room 3325, Steele Memorial Children’s Research Center, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. lqbai@yahoo.com
Telephone: +1-520-626-1614 Fax: +1-520-626-4141
Received: May 7, 2004
Revised: May 8, 2004
Accepted: November 4, 2004
Published online: March 28, 2005
Abstract

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Packaging and storage of glutamate into glutamatergic neuronal vesicles require ATP-dependent vesicular glutamate uptake systems, which utilize the electrochemical proton gradient as a driving force. Three vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUT1-3) have been recently identified from neuronal tissue where they play a key role to maintain the vesicular glutamate level. Recently, it has been demonstrated that glutamate signaling is also functional in peripheral neuronal and non-neuronal tissues, and occurs in sites of pituitary, adrenal, pineal glands, bone, GI tract, pancreas, skin, and testis. The glutamate receptors and VGLUTs in digestive system have been found in both neuronal and endocrinal cells. The glutamate signaling in the digestive system may have significant relevance to diabetes and GI tract motility disorders. This review will focus on the most recent update of molecular physiology of digestive VGLUTs.

Keywords: Glutamate; Vesicular glutamate transporters; Digestive system