Vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) is a crucial protein encoded by the SLC17A7 gene, predominantly found in neuron-rich regions of the brain. It is a vesicle-bound, sodium-dependent phosphate transporter that plays a vital role in packaging glutamate into synaptic vesicles, which is essential for excitatory neurotransmission. VGLUT1 is primarily expressed in the neocortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus, and is involved in intercortical and corticothalamic projections. Its function relies on a proton gradient across the vesicular membrane, established by a V-type ATPase, allowing it to couple proton movement out of the vesicle with glutamate transport into it. This protein is also implicated in various neurological disorders, including learning and memory disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and pain pathology.
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