GLAST-1a: a GLAST-1 splice variant where exon 3 has been removed

摘要

Described is the Na+ dependent glutamate transporter GLAST-1 and a splice variant thereof. A novel splice variant has been found (GLAST-1a) which lacks exon 3 resulting in a loss of about 46 amino acids. The protein is altered in such a way that indicates altered function of the transporter. Indeed, the inventors have surprisingly determined that the splice variant has a reversed transport direction as compared to GLAST-1. Thus, the invention provides materials and methods relating to the splice variant GLAST-1a including the amino acid and nucleic acid sequence; materials and methods relating to the detection in vivo or in vitro of the GLAST-1a; and materials and methods relating to the modulation of excitatory amino acids (EAAs) signalling.