SLC6A3

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is a 70-80 kDa member of the Na+-neurotransmitter symporter family of transmembrane (TM) proteins coded by gene SLC6A3. DAT plays a crucial role in the synaptic clearance of dopamine (DA). It terminates the action of dopamine by its high affinity sodium-dependent reuptake into presynaptic terminals. One molecule of DA is accompanied by two Na+ and one Cl- ion. Molecules such as amphetamine both competitively inhibit DA uptake, and induce DA release through the DAT, increasing the rewarding property of DA. Human DAT is a 620 amino acid (aa), 12 TM phosphoglycoprotein with an N- and C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. It exists as a disulfide-linked oligomer on the cell surface.