title: Characterization of the human dopamine transporter heterologously expressed in BHK-21 cells.
abstract: 1. cDNA of the human dopamine transporter (hDAT) was cloned into a cloning vector based on the Semliki Forest virus. Electroporation of in vitro transcribed mRNA from this plasmid into BHK-21 cells resulted in production of the transporter as measured by [3H]dopamine uptake (Km = 2.0 +/- 0.4 microM), which was specifically inhibited in the presence of cocaine. 2. The recombinant transporter protein exhibited an apparent molecular mass of 56 kDa, which was reduced to 50 kDa after tunicamycin treatment of the producing BHK-21 cells. Tunicamycin treatment of the electroporated cells also resulted in a decrease in transport activity with no change in the Km value (2.1 +/- 0.4 microM). 3. The localization of the heterologously produced transporter in the BHK cells either with or without tunicamycin treatment was studied by electron microscopic immunogold staining. The glycosylated transporter was found to be localized at the plasma membrane, whereas in the case of the unglycosylated transporter, transport to the plasma membrane was blocked.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysik, Abt. Mol. Membranbiologie, Frankfurt/M, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenhard
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marheineke
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lingen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hammermann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reiländer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012672:Semliki forest virus / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D004298:Dopamine