GABA Metabolism and Transport: Effects on Synaptic Efficacy

Figure 2

Schematic drawing of transmitter release, transport, and synthesis at a GABAergic synaptic terminal. The axonal ending of an inhibitory interneuron (PRE) is drawn on the left, a glial cell (GLIA) on the right. Bottom structure indicates postsynaptic membrane of a target cell (POST), for example, a pyramidal neuron. Transporters are marked by flanking arrows, and synthesizing or degrading enzymes are marked by a centred arrow. Transporters are colour matched to substrates: GABA is shown as blue particles, glutamate in red, and glutamine in green. GS: glutamine synthetase, Mit: mitochondrion, PAG: phosphate-activated glutaminase, SV: synaptic vesicle, and V-ATPase: vacuolar-type H⁺-ATPase. For other abbreviations, see the main text.