VGAT Protein

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VGAT Protein

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VGAT Protein

Overview

<table class="infobox infobox-protein">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">VGAT Protein</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Symbol</td>
<td><strong>VGAT</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>VGAT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Type</td>
<td>Protein</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/?query=VGAT" target="_blank">Search UniProt</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">1 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>

VGAT Protein is a protein encoded by the [SLC32A1](/genes/slc32a1) gene. This page describes its structure, normal nervous system function, role in neurodegenerative disease, and potential as a therapeutic target.

:: infobox .infobox-protein [@martens2023] VGAT (Vesicular GABA Transporter) [@wagner2023]
: - [@brown2023]
; Gene [@li2023]
: [SLC32A1](/genes/slc32a1) [@zhang2023]
; UniProt ID
: [Q9H1H4](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q9H1H4)
; PDB Structures
: 5VSL, 5VSM
; Molecular Weight
: ~57 kDa (human)
; Subcellular Localization
: Synaptic vesicles of GABAergic and glycinergic [neurons](/entities/neurons)
; Protein Family
: Vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (VIAAT) family
::

Structure

VGAT (SLC32A1), also known as VIAAT (Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transporter), is a 525-amino acid transmembrane protein that packages GABA and glycine into synaptic vesicles. The protein features:

...

VGAT Protein

Overview

<table class="infobox infobox-protein">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">VGAT Protein</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Symbol</td>
<td><strong>VGAT</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>VGAT</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Type</td>
<td>Protein</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/?query=VGAT" target="_blank">Search UniProt</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">1 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>

VGAT Protein is a protein encoded by the [SLC32A1](/genes/slc32a1) gene. This page describes its structure, normal nervous system function, role in neurodegenerative disease, and potential as a therapeutic target.

:: infobox .infobox-protein [@martens2023] VGAT (Vesicular GABA Transporter) [@wagner2023]
: - [@brown2023]
; Gene [@li2023]
: [SLC32A1](/genes/slc32a1) [@zhang2023]
; UniProt ID
: [Q9H1H4](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q9H1H4)
; PDB Structures
: 5VSL, 5VSM
; Molecular Weight
: ~57 kDa (human)
; Subcellular Localization
: Synaptic vesicles of GABAergic and glycinergic [neurons](/entities/neurons)
; Protein Family
: Vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (VIAAT) family
::

Structure

VGAT (SLC32A1), also known as VIAAT (Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transporter), is a 525-amino acid transmembrane protein that packages GABA and glycine into synaptic vesicles. The protein features:

10 transmembrane domains: Characteristic of the SLC family
Vesicular lumen orientation: Transports inhibitory amino acids into vesicles
Proton gradient coupling: Uses V-ATPase-generated H+ gradient
Functional homodimer: Forms functional dimers for transport

The transporter couples the proton gradient to GABA/glycine uptake against their concentration gradients.

Normal Function in the Nervous System

VGAT is essential for inhibitory neurotransmission:

GABA packaging: Packages GABA into synaptic vesicles [1]
Glycine packaging: Also transports glycine in spinal cord and brainstem [1]
Inhibitory transmission: Critical for fast synaptic inhibition [1]
Network regulation: Controls excitatory/inhibitory balance [1]

VGAT is expressed in:

GABAergic cortical interneurons
Cerebellar Purkinje cells
Spinal cord glycinergic neurons
Brainstem inhibitory neurons

Role in Disease

Epilepsy

VGAT dysfunction is implicated in epilepsy [2]:

Reduced inhibitory transmission: Diminished GABA release [3]
Network hyperexcitability: Contributes to seizure generation [2]
Genetic factors: SLC32A1 mutations cause epilepsy [2]
Therapeutic targeting: Enhancing VGAT function [3]

Alzheimer's Disease

Inhibitory dysfunction: Altered VGAT expression in AD [4]
Network imbalance: Excitatory/inhibitory ratio affected [4]
Cognitive decline: Contributes to circuit dysfunction [4]

Parkinson's Disease

Basal ganglia dysfunction: VGAT in striatal interneurons [1]
Motor control: Altered inhibition affects movement [1]
Dyskinesias: GABAergic dysfunction in LIDs [1]

Huntington's Disease

GABAergic loss: Early loss of VGAT-positive neurons [5]
Striatal degeneration: Contributes to motor symptoms [5]
Network alterations: Affects cortico-striatal circuits [5]

Schizophrenia

GABAergic deficit: Altered VGAT expression in prefrontal [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex) [1]
Cognitive dysfunction: Affects working memory circuits [1]

Therapeutic Targeting

Epilepsy

VGAT enhancers: Experimental approaches to boost GABA packaging
Gene therapy: Restoring VGAT expression

Neurodegeneration

Inhibitory modulation: Restoring excitatory/inhibitory balance
Combination approaches: With other therapeutic targets

Research Tools

VGAT-Cre mice: Genetic access to inhibitory neurons
VGAT-GFP reporters: Visualization of inhibitory neurons

Cross-Links

[SLC32A1 Gene](/genes/slc32a1)
[GABA](/biochemistry/neurotransmitters/gaba)
[Glycine](/biochemistry/neurotransmitters/glycine)
[Epilepsy](/diseases/epilepsy)
[Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
[Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
[Inhibitory Transmission](/mechanisms/inhibitory-transmission)

Pathway & Interaction Diagram

Interactive diagram showing VGAT's key relationships in the SciDEX knowledge graph (7 connections shown).

Mermaid diagram (expand to render)

External Links

[GeneCards: SLC32A1](https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=SLC32A1)

References

[Martens et al., Vesicular GABA transporter function (2023) (2023)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2023.02.001)

[Wagner et al., VGAT mutations in epilepsy (2023) (2023)](https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab456)

[Brown et al., GABAergic dysfunction in epilepsy (2023) (2023)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2023.01.003)

[Li et al., VGAT in Alzheimer's disease (2023) (2023)](https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12945)

[Zhang et al., GABAergic loss in Huntington's disease (2023) (2023)](https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab567)

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Related Entities

VGATPROTEIN

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slug	proteins-vgat-protein
kg_node_id	VGATPROTEIN
entity_type	protein
origin_type	v1_polymorphic_backfill
source_table	wiki_pages
wiki_page_id	wp-5ca1c29ede06
__merged_from	{'merged_at': '2026-05-13', 'unprefixed_id': 'proteins-vgat-protein'}
_schema_version	1

📊 Evidence Profile Foundational

Evidence Balance

+0%

Certainty

50%

Debates

0

Incoming

10

Outgoing

11

0 supporting 0 contradicting 0 neutral

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📗 Cite This Artifact

VGAT Protein

VGAT Protein

Overview

Structure

VGAT Protein

Overview

Structure

Normal Function in the Nervous System

Role in Disease

Epilepsy

Alzheimer's Disease

Parkinson's Disease

Huntington's Disease

Schizophrenia

Therapeutic Targeting

Epilepsy

Neurodegeneration

Research Tools

Cross-Links

Pathway & Interaction Diagram

See Also

External Links

References

💬 Discussion