Dopamine Transporter

Dopamine Transporter (DAT) is an integral membrane protein that removes dopamine from the synaptic cleft and deposits it into surrounding cells, thus terminating the signal of the neurotransmitter. Dopamine transporter (DAT) controls the spatial and temporal dynamics of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission by driving reuptake of extracellular transmitter into presynaptic neurons. Many diseases such as depression, bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are associated with abnormal DA levels, implicating DAT as a factor in their etiology. Medications used to treat these disorders and many addictive drugs target DAT and enhance dopaminergic signaling by suppressing transmitter reuptake. DAT is regulated by multiple signaling systems, with PKC and ERK being two of the most well-characterized.