CDNA CLONE ENCODING A HUMAN NOREPINEPHRINE TRANSPORTER

摘要

2106190 9217568 PCTABS00016 A cDNA encoding human norepinephrine transporter isolated from human neuroblastoma cells is disclosed. Determination of the nucleotide sequence thereof permitted a putative amino-acid sequence of the transporter protein to be determined. Mammalian cells transfected with the cDNA produced an mRNA species similar in size to that produced by norepinephrine-producing neurons. Such transfected cells also became capable of norepinephrine uptake. The uptake was inhibitable by various uptake-inhibiting drugs, including cocaine, to a degree similar to the effect of such drugs on noradrenergic neurons. The cloned cDNA makes possible well-controlled studies of transporter function in non-neuronal cells without the obfuscating influence of other transporters in the same cells. Such studies include the relative effects of various drugs such as antidepressants.