Millisecond dynamics of an unlabeled amino acid transporter

Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are important in many physiological processes and crucial for the removal of excitatory amino acids from the synaptic cleft. Here, we develop and apply high-speed atomic force microscopy line-scanning (HS-AFM-LS) combined with automated state assignment and transition analysis for the determination of transport dynamics of unlabeled membrane-reconstituted Glt Ph , a prokaryotic EAAT homologue, with millisecond temporal resolution. We find that Glt Ph transporters can operate much faster than previously reported, with state dwell-times in the 50 ms range, and report the kinetics of an intermediate transport state with height between the outward- and inward-facing states. Transport domains stochastically probe transmembrane motion, and reversible unsuccessful excursions to the intermediate state occur. The presented approach and analysis methodology are generally applicable to study transporter kinetics at system-relevant temporal resolution. Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are crucial for the removal of excitatory amino acids from the synaptic cleft. Here authors combined high-speed atomic force microscopy line-scanning with automated state assignment for the determination of transport dynamics of Glt Ph , a prokaryotic EAAT homologue, with millisecond temporal resolution.