Table 1.

The properties and characteristics of VGLUTs

	VGLUT1	VGLUT2	VGLUT3
Gene name	SLC7A7	SLC7A6	SLC7A8
Atomic mass (kDa)	61.6	64.4	65
Number of amino acids	560	582	589
C-and N-terminal domains	Intracellular	Intracellular	Intracellular
Number of transmembrane domains	6–12	12	10
Expression organ sites	Brain	Brain	Small intestine/brain/colon
Highest expression organ(s)	Anterior cingulate cortex	Lateral nuclear group of thalamus	Small intestine Peyer’s patch
Functions	Mediates the uptake of glutamate into synaptic vesicles at presynaptic nerve terminals of excitatory neural cells. May also mediate the transport of inorganic phosphate