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Two glycine transporter variants with distinct localization in the CNS and peripheral tissues are encoded by a common gene

1993; Cell Press; Volume: 10; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0896-6273(93)90201-2

1097-4199

Beth Borowsky, Éva Mezey, Beth Hoffman,

Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism

We have isolated a cDNA encoding a high affinity, Na+/ Cl−-dependent glycine transporter, GLYT-2, which is distinct from another glycine transporter, GLYT-1. While the 3′ sequences of these two cDNAs are identical, the 5′ noncoding regions and the N-termini are completely different. GLYT-1 is found only in the white matter of the CNS, while GLYT-2 is found in the gray matter of the CNS as well as in macrophages and mast cells in peripheral tissues. Our findings suggest that tissue-specific alternative splicing or alternative promoter usage from a single gene results in two mRNA products encoding similar but distinct glycine transporters. The anatomic distibution of GLYT-2 mRNA supports the emerging status of glycine as a supraspinal neurotransmitter and suggests that glycine may function as a chemical messenger outside the CNS. We have isolated a cDNA encoding a high affinity, Na+/ Cl−-dependent glycine transporter, GLYT-2, which is distinct from another glycine transporter, GLYT-1. While the 3′ sequences of these two cDNAs are identical, the 5′ noncoding regions and the N-termini are completely different. GLYT-1 is found only in the white matter of the CNS, while GLYT-2 is found in the gray matter of the CNS as well as in macrophages and mast cells in peripheral tissues. Our findings suggest that tissue-specific alternative splicing or alternative promoter usage from a single gene results in two mRNA products encoding similar but distinct glycine transporters. The anatomic distibution of GLYT-2 mRNA supports the emerging status of glycine as a supraspinal neurotransmitter and suggests that glycine may function as a chemical messenger outside the CNS.