Glutamate transporters control the glutamate homeostasis in the central nervous system. Until now, five subtypes of high-affinity glutamate transporters (excitatory amino acid transporters, EAATs 1–5) have been identified that belong to the solute carrier 1 (SLC1) family of transmembrane proteins. These EAATs are secondary-active transporters, taking up glutamate into the cell against a substantial concentration gradient. EAAT1 and EAAT2 are predominantly but not exclusively expressed in glial cells; for example, EAAT2 is also expressed in mammalian retina[1] and the most abundant glutamate transporter found in the brain and, by some estimates, accounts for ~90% of the total glutamate uptake in the brain[2].