Neurotransmitter transporter

Their primary function is to carry neurotransmitters across these membranes and to direct their further transport to specific intracellular locations.

[1] Vesicular transporters move neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles, regulating the concentrations of substances within them.

[2] Vesicular transporters rely on a proton gradient created by the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in order to carry out their work: v-ATPase hydrolyzes ATP, causing protons to be pumped into the synaptic vesicles and creating a proton gradient.

[3] Neurotransmitter transporters frequently use electrochemical gradients that exist across cell membranes to carry out their work.

For example, some transporters use energy obtained by the cotransport, or symport, of Na+ in order to move glutamate across membranes.