Members of the solute carrier family 1 are classified as high-affinity glutamate and neutral amino acid transporters. These are also referred to as excitatory amino acid transporters, which regulate glutamatergic signal transmission by clearing excess glutamate after synaptic release in the central nervous system. SLC1A2/EAAT2 is predominantly located on the astroglia in the brain and is believed to act as a glial-specific glutamate transporter. Lethal seizures and increased susceptibility to acute cortical injury have been observed in mice with disrupted slc1a2 gene. In humans, a severe decrease in the expression levels of SLC1A2/EAAT2 is noted in the brain of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.