Journal Article

Ataxia-linked SLC1A3 mutations alter EAAT1 chloride channel activity and glial regulation of CNS function

Cho, Eunjoo, Ryan, Renae M., Wu, Qianyi, Pant, Shashank, van Meyel, Donald J., Ohyama, Tomoko, Tajkhorshid, Emad, Garner, Alastair, Akhter, Azman, Zhu, Jin Xin

2022

Overview

Glutamate is the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) regulate extracellular glutamate by transporting it into cells, mostly glia, to terminate neurotransmission and to avoid neurotoxicity. EAATs are also chloride (Cl-) channels, but the physiological role of Cl- conductance through EAATs is poorly understood. Mutations of human EAAT1 (hEAAT1) have been identified in patients with episodic ataxia type 6 (EA6). One mutation showed increased Cl- channel activity and decreased glutamate transport, but the relative contributions of each function of hEAAT1 to mechanisms underlying the pathology of EA6 remain unclear. Here we investigated the effects of 5 additional EA6-related mutations on hEAAT1 function in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and on CNS function in a Drosophila melanogaster model of locomotor behavior. Our results indicate that mutations resulting in decreased hEAAT1 Cl- channel activity but with functional glutamate transport can also contribute to the pathology of EA6, highlighting the importance of Cl- homeostasis in glial cells for proper CNS function. We also identified what we believe is a novel mechanism involving an ectopic sodium (Na+) leak conductance in glial cells. Together, these results strongly support the idea that EA6 is primarily an ion channelopathy of CNS glia.

• Publisher: American Society for Clinical Investigation
• Subject: Amino acids / Animals / Ataxia / Ataxia - genetics / Ataxia - metabolism / Binding sites / Biomedical research / Carrier proteins / Central nervous system / Central nervous system diseases / Channel gating / Channelopathies / Channelopathy / Chloride channels / Chloride Channels - genetics / Development and progression / Drosophila melanogaster - genetics / Drosophila melanogaster - metabolism / Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1 / Excitatory amino acid transporters / Gene mutations / Genetic aspects / Genotype & phenotype / Glial cells / Glutamic Acid - genetics / Glutamic Acid - metabolism / Health aspects / Homeostasis / Humans / Insects / Mammals - metabolism / Mutation / Nervous system / Neuroglia - metabolism / Neurological research / Neuronal-glial interactions / Neuroscience / Neurotoxicity / Neurotransmission / Oocytes / Pathology / Physiology / Potassium / Sodium conductance