Vesicular glutamate transporters as anion channels?

Since the discovery of a putative Cl(-) channel on synaptic vesicle (SV) membranes, attempts to establish its molecular identity have proven surprisingly difficult. Recent evidence has emerged to support the idea that the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT), whose main function is to concentrate the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate into SVs, can also act as the Cl(-) permeation pathway. Here, I summarize studies investigating the putative Cl(-) channel on SVs and discuss the possible roles of VGLUT-mediated Cl(-) transport on glutamate loading.