Symporter that cotransports short-chain neutral amino acids and sodium ions from the extraccellular to the intracellular side of the cell membrane (PubMed:10891391, PubMed:20599747). The transport is elctrogenic, pH dependent and driven by the Na(+) electrochemical gradient (PubMed:10891391). Participates in the astroglia-derived glutamine transport into GABAergic interneurons for neurotransmitter GABA de novo synthesis (By similarity). May also contributes to amino acid transport in placental trophoblasts (PubMed:20599747). Also regulates synaptic plasticity (PubMed:12388062).
