Subcellular localization of rat Abca5, a rat ATP-binding-cassette transporter expressed in Leydig cells, and characterization of its splice variant apparently encoding a half-transporter.

ABSTRACT: Several transporters belonging to the ABCA subfamily of ABC (ATP-binding cassette) proteins are involved in lipid trafficking. Human ABCA5 and its rat orthologue, rAbca5, represent recently identified subfamily members whose substrate spectrum remains to be defined. The elucidation of (sub)cellular rAbca5 distribution would be expected to provide a basis for optimization of functional analyses. In the present study, we applied in situ hybridization to examine rAbca5 mRNA distribution within sections of rat testis, a tissue expressing high levels of rAbca5 mRNA. We found rAbca5 mRNA to be predominantly expressed in interstitial Leydig cells, which are major sites of testosterone synthesis. To investigate rAbca5 subcellular localization, we constructed expression vectors yielding rAbca5 fuse

SUBMITTER: Petry F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1383666 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature