Características estructurales y funcionales de los transportadores de glutamato: Su relación con la epilepsia y el estrés oxidativo

Translated title of the contribution: Structural and functional characteristics of glutamate transporters: How they are related to epilepsy and oxidative stress

Laura Medina-Ceja, H. Guerrero-Cazares, A. Canales-Aguirre, A. Morales-Villagrán, A. Feria-Velasco

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims. The article highlights the general structural characteristics, functional properties and distribution of glutamate transporters, as well as the role they play in epilepsy and oxidative stress. Development. Transporters of amino acids such as glutamate are considered to be proteins that are extremely important in the central nervous system because they participate in the capture of the neurotransmitter following its release in the synaptic cleft, thus putting an end to its effect and limiting glutamate-mediated excitability. These proteins belong to the family of Na+/Kx+ dependent transporters. A growing body of evidence has been gathered to show that these transporters are involved in several neuronal disorders, such as epilepsy and cerebral ischaemia. In this regard, it is considered that some defect in the structure of the transporters could affect their functioning and, therefore, favour the hyperexcitability produced by glutamate; this in turn would lead to the pathological disorders that are found in epilepsy. Conclusions. A detailed study of the structure and functioning of these transporters, as well as the role they play in the more common neurological diseases, such as epilepsy, would afford us a clearer view of new therapeutic alternatives with which to fight this kind of neuronal disorder in the future.

Translated title of the contributionStructural and functional characteristics of glutamate transporters: How they are related to epilepsy and oxidative stress
Original languageSpanish
Pages (from-to)341-352
Number of pages12
JournalRevista de Neurologia
Volume45
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Central nervous system
  • Epilepsy
  • Function
  • Glutamate
  • Glutamate transporters
  • Oxidative stress
  • Structure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology

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