Glutamate transporters

US6818391B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Robert H. Edwards · Los Angeles, US
• Elizabeth E. Bellocchio · Walnut Creek, US
• Robert T. Fremeau, Jr. · Durham, US
• Richard J. Reimer · San Francisco, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 24, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 16, 2004
• Expiry date: Jul 24, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2333/70571
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention pertains to the identification of a novel class of glutamate transporters. In particular, this invention pertains to the discovery that proteins originally considered to perform an entirely different function (BNPI, DNPI, etc.), in fact, transport glutamate into synaptic vesicles. Designated VGLUT glutamate transporters, the transporters provide good targets with which to screen for modulators of glutamate uptake into synaptic vesicles.