Sodium-dependent dopamine transporter; Sodium-dependent noradrenaline transporter; Sodium-dependent serotonin transporter (DAT (dopamine transporter), NET (norepinephrine/noradrenaline transporter), SERT (serotonin transporter))

The sodium-dependent dopamine transporter (DAT), sodium-dependent noradrenaline transporter (NET), and sodium-dependent serotonin transporter (SERT) are closely related integral membrane proteins belonging to the solute carrier family 6 (SLC6). Each is responsible for the reuptake of its respective monoamine neurotransmitter (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) from the synaptic cleft, powered by co-transport of sodium (and often chloride) ions down their electrochemical gradients. These transporters are crucial for the regulation of neurotransmission, termination of signal, and homeostasis within the central and peripheral nervous systems. All three are clinically significant drug targets for antidepressants, psychostimulants, drugs of abuse, and other neuroactive agents. Dysfunction or dysregulation of one or more of these transporters is associated with a wide range of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, and they are a focus of both basic neuroscience and therapeutic drug development.

Other names

DAT (dopamine transporter), SLC6A3NET (norepinephrine transporter, noradrenaline transporter, NAT), SLC6A2SERT (serotonin transporter), SLC6A4

Inhibition of reuptake transporters (blocking the removal of neurotransmitter from the synaptic cleft, increasing extracellular concentrations); Competitive inhibition at the central substrate binding site; Substrate-type releasers (e.g., amphetamines) can reverse transporter direction to cause non-vesicular release of neurotransmitter