The glycine transporter belongs to a family of Na/Cl-dependent neurotransmitter transporters, predicted to contain as many as 12 transmembrane domains. Glycine receptor exists in 2 forms-GLYT1 and GLYT2. Form 1 has three other known isoforms (GLYT1a, GLYT1b, and GLYT1c) which may be produced by alternative splicing or promoter usage. Rodent GLYT1a and GLYT1b differ only by 10 amino acid at the N-terminus and are expressed from the same gene. Although the N-terminal part of mouse and rat GLYT1a is identical in mouse and rat, the N-terminus of GLYT1b is significantly different in these two species. The GLYT1c subtype has only been reported in humans. GLYT1a is expressed in CNS and peripheral organs. GLYT1b is localized in the CNS. Both neuron and Glial cells have GLYT1. More recent studies indicate that GLYt1b may not be brain specific. Immunolocalization studies on GLYT2 suggest that GLYT2 is responsible for terminating the neurotransmission at the strychnine synapses.
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