The multifunctional properties of astrocytes signify their importance in brain physiology and neurological function. In addition to defining the brain architecture, astrocytes are primary elements of brain ion, pH and neurotransmitter homoeostasis. GS (glutamine synthetase), which catalyses the ATP-dependent condensation of ammonia and glutamate to form glutamine, is an enzyme particularly found in astrocytes. GS plays a pivotal role in glutamate and glutamine homoeostasis, orchestrating astrocyte glutamate uptake/release and the glutamate–glutamine cycle. Furthermore, astrocytes bear the brunt of clearing ammonia in the brain, preventing neurotoxicity. The present review depicts the central function of astrocytes, concentrating on the importance of GS in glutamate/glutamine metabolism and ammonia detoxification in health and disease.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
December 2013
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
November 20 2013
Astrocyte glutamine synthetase: pivotal in health and disease
Christopher F. Rose;
Christopher F. Rose
1
*Hepato-Neuro Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) – Hôpital Saint-Luc, Pavillon Édouard-Asselin, Local 402, 264 boulevard René-Lévesque Est, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H2X 1P1
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (emailchristopher.rose@umontreal.ca).
Search for other works by this author on:
Alexei Verkhratsky;
Alexei Verkhratsky
†Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Carys Bannister Building, Dover Street, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Vladimir Parpura
Vladimir Parpura
‡Department of Neurobiology, Center for Glial Biology in Medicine, Atomic Force Microscopy and Nanotechnology Laboratories, Civitan International Research Center, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, U.S.A.
§Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejčić 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
October 09 2013
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2013 Biochemical Society
2013
Biochem Soc Trans (2013) 41 (6): 1518–1524.
Article history
Received:
October 09 2013
Citation
Christopher F. Rose, Alexei Verkhratsky, Vladimir Parpura; Astrocyte glutamine synthetase: pivotal in health and disease. Biochem Soc Trans 1 December 2013; 41 (6): 1518–1524. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20130237
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.