Sodium- and chloride-dependent GABA transporter 3 (GAT-3)

Sodium‑ and chloride‑dependent GABA transporter 3 is a membrane protein encoded by the SLC6A11 gene. It belongs to the solute carrier family 6 (SLC6), which includes several neurotransmitter transporters responsible for sodium-dependent uptake mechanisms. Primarily expressed in brain astrocytes and some neurons, it mediates high-affinity reuptake of gamma‑aminobutyric acid (GABA)—the main inhibitory neurotransmitter—by coupling its transport with sodium and chloride ions across cell membranes. This process terminates synaptic transmission at inhibitory synapses by clearing released GABA from the extracellular space, thus regulating neuronal excitability. Dysfunction or altered expression has been linked to neurological diseases such as epilepsy, intellectual disability, behavioral problems, and possibly neurodegenerative disorders due to impaired inhibition within neural circuits.

Other names

GAT-3Solute carrier family 6 member 11SLC6A11

Drugs that inhibit sodium-dependent GABA transporters block reuptake of extracellular GABA, increasing synaptic/intersynaptic concentrations and enhancing inhibitory signaling. This can reduce neuronal excitability—relevant for anticonvulsant or anxiolytic effects.