Expression and function of variants of human catecholamine transporters lacking the fifth transmembrane region encoded by exon 6.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The transporters for dopamine (DAT) and norepinephrine (NET) are members of the Na+- and Cl--dependent neurotransmitter transporter family SLC6. There is a line of evidence that alternative splicing results in several isoforms of neurotransmitter transporters including NET. However, its relevance to the physiology and pathology of the neurotransmitter reuptake system has not been fully elucidated.

Methodology/principal findings

We found novel isoforms of human DAT and NET produced by alternative splicing in human blood cells (DAT) and placenta (NET), both of which lacked the region encoded by exon 6. RT-PCR analyses showed a difference in expression between the full length (FL) and truncated isoforms in the brain and peripheral tissues, suggesting tissue-specific

SUBMITTER: Sogawa C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2916826 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature