Responsible for the transport of glutamate from the cytosol into the mitochondrial matrix with the concomitant import of a proton (symport system). H(+)(in) + L-glutamate(in) = H(+)(out) + L-glutamate(out) Expressed in brain, to a lesser extent in testis, and poorly in all the other tissues. Belongs to the mitochondrial carrier (TC 2.A.29) family.