All diagrams in synapses and receptor signalling
DAT uptake and ion gradients
DAT transport uses ion gradients; ATP maintains those gradients indirectly. DAT is not directly powered by ATP hydrolysis.
DAT uptake and ion gradients
Scoped educational mechanism
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DAT cotransports dopamine with sodium and chloride across the plasma membrane. Its transport energetics depend on electrochemical gradients; the Na+/K+ ATPase supports ionic gradients using ATP but DAT does not itself act as an ATP-hydrolysing pump. Intracellular dopamine can be stored or metabolised. NET can contribute to dopamine clearance in regions with low DAT, supported by regional experimental evidence. This is not a genotype-based inference about the reader.
- Outside the cell → DAT / SLC6A3: coupled uptake
- DAT / SLC6A3 → Inside the cell: transport
- Na+/K+ ATPase → DAT / SLC6A3: indirect gradient
- Inside the cell → Storage or metabolism: downstream routes
What the diagram shows
DAT cotransports dopamine with sodium and chloride across the plasma membrane. Its transport energetics depend on electrochemical gradients; the Na+/K+ ATPase supports ionic gradients using ATP but DAT does not itself act as an ATP-hydrolysing pump. Intracellular dopamine can be stored or metabolised. NET can contribute to dopamine clearance in regions with low DAT, supported by regional experimental evidence. This is not a genotype-based inference about the reader.