The dominant astrocytic glutamate transporter, responsible for ~90% of synaptic glutamate reuptake in the forebrain. EAAT2 downregulation is a hallmark of ALS contributing to excitotoxic motor neuron death. EAAT2 knockout mice develop fatal spontaneous seizures. NMDA receptor hypofunction in schizophrenia is linked to dysregulation of glutamate clearance at EAAT2-expressing astrocytes.