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Since aspartate is an amino acid, an amino radical needs to be added to the oxaloacetate. This is supplied by glutamate, which in the process is transformed into alpha-ketoglutarate by the same enzyme. The second antiporter (AGC1 or AGC2) imports glutamate from the cytosol into the matrix and exports aspartate from the matrix to the cytosol.
EAAT1 is also often called the GLutamate ASpartate Transporter 1 (GLAST-1). EAAT1 is predominantly expressed in the plasma membrane, allowing it to remove glutamate from the extracellular space. [6] It has also been localized in the inner mitochondrial membrane as part of the malate-aspartate shuttle. [7]
Glutamate transporters also transport aspartate and are present in virtually all peripheral tissues, including the heart, liver, testes, and bone. They exhibit stereoselectivity for L-glutamate but transport both L-aspartate and D-aspartate. The EAATs are membrane-bound secondary transporters that superficially resemble ion channels. [1]
The two main systems in humans are the glycerol phosphate shuttle and the malate-aspartate shuttle. The malate/a-ketoglutarate antiporter functions move electrons while the aspartate/glutamate antiporter moves amino groups. This allows the mitochondria to receive the substrates that it needs for its functionality in an efficient manner. [1]
Citrin is an aspartate-glutamate carrier protein localized at the inner mitochondrial membrane and is mainly expressed in the liver. It is an important component of the malate-aspartate shuttle that facilitates the transfer of NADH from the cytosol to the mitochondria to maintain redox balance and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production.
glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), also called aspartate transaminase (AST), EC 2.6.1.1 (component of the malate aspartate shuttle) Recruited reaction steps of the citric acid cycle and malate aspartate shuttle
Therefore, the malate-aspartate shuttle promotes the net transfer of cytosolic NADH into mitochondria to ensure a high rate of glycolysis in diverse cancer cell lines. In a study completed in 2008, inhibiting the malate-aspartate shuttle was found to impair the glycolysis process and essentially decreased breast adenocarcinoma cell proliferation.
Oxaloacetic acid + Glutamate ⇌ α-Ketoglutarate + Aspartate (catalyzed by aspartate aminotransferase) When skeletal muscle is at rest (ADP<ATP), the aspartate is no longer needed for the purine nucleotide cycle and can therefore be used with α-ketoglutarate to produce glutamate and oxaloacetic acid (the above reaction reversed).