Abstract
The unc-47 locus of Caenorhabditis elegans has been suggested to encode a synaptic vesicle GABA transporter. Here we used hydropathy plot analysis to identify a candidate vesicular GABA transporter in genomic sequences derived from a region of the physical map comprising unc-47. A mouse homologue was identified and cloned from EST database information. In situ hybridization in rat brain revealed codistribution with both GABAergic and glycinergic neuronal markers. Moreover, expression in COS-7 and PC12 cells induced an intracellular, glycine-sensitive GABA uptake activity. These observations, consistent with previous data on GABA and glycine uptake by synaptic vesicles, demonstrate that the mouse clone encodes a vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral*
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Caenorhabditis elegans / enzymology
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Carrier Proteins / genetics*
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Cloning, Molecular / methods
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Cosmids
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Databases, Factual
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GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
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Genes, Helminth*
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Glycine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
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Humans
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In Situ Hybridization
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Membrane Proteins / genetics*
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Membrane Transport Proteins*
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Mice
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Organic Anion Transporters*
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Rats
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Sequence Alignment
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Tissue Distribution
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Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins
Substances
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Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
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Glycine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Membrane Transport Proteins
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Organic Anion Transporters
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Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins
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unc-47 protein, C elegans