Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Comprehensive Profiling of Dopamine Regulation in Substantia Nigra and Ventral Tegmental Area
Published on: August 10, 2012
Dopamine transporter: basic science and human variation of a key molecule for dopaminergic function, locomotion, and
1Molecular Neurobiology Branch, NIDA-IRP, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. guhl@intra.nih.gov
Abstract:
We review the basic science of the dopamine transporter (DAT), a key neurotransmitter for locomotor control and reward systems, including those lost or deranged in Parkinson's disease (PD). Physiology, pharmaceutical features, expression, cDNA, protein structure/function relationships, and phosphorylation and regulation are discussed. The localization of DAT provides the best marker for the integrity of just the pre-synaptic dopaminergic systems that are most affected in PD. Its function is key for the actions of several toxins that provide some of the best current models for idiopathic parkinsonism, and its variation can clearly alter movement. The wealth of information about this interesting molecule that has been developed over the last 12 years has led to increased interest in DAT among workers interested in both normal and abnormal movement.
Related Concept Videos
The Significance of Membrane Transport
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

