Transport mechanism of a glutamate transporter homologue Glt(Ph)

Glutamate transporters are responsible for uptake of the neurotransmitter glutamate in mammalian central nervous systems. Their archaeal homologue Glt(Ph), an aspartate transporter isolated from Pyrococcus horikoshii, has been the focus of extensive studies through crystallography, MD simulations and single-molecule FRET (smFRET). Here, we summarize the recent research progress on Glt(Ph), in the hope of gaining some insights into the transport mechanism of this aspartate transporter.