Dopamine transporters (DATs) are considered to be the janitors of the neurotransmission world, sucking up excess dopamine that has been released into synapses (the gaps between neurons). Not so fast, according to [Blakely][1] in his insightful Perspective. It turns out that DATs can be switched into reverse, exporting instead of importing dopamine ([ Falkenburger et al. ][2]). This switch may help in dampening down the excitability of dopaminergic neurons that have been overstimulated by the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/293/5539/2407 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/293/5539/2465
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Randy Blakely (2001) studied this question.
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