SLC1A1 and central nervous system cancer: Neurons also express a glutamate transporter, excitatory amino acid carrier-1 (SLC1A1), but the physiological function of this transporter remains uncertain. In a study conducted on C6 rat glioma cells, a line described to contain neural stem-like cells, SLC1A1 was markedly induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a well-known differentiating agent.