title: Functional expression of SLC15 peptide transporters in rat thyroid follicular cells.
abstract: Peptide transport and expression of SoLute Carrier 15 (SLC15) peptide transporters was assessed in rat thyroid tissue and a rat thyroid cell line (PC Cl3 cells). Peptide transport was studied by monitoring the uptake of the fluorophore-conjugated dipeptide beta-Ala-Lys-N(epsilon)-7-amino-4-methyl-coumarin-3-acetic acid (Ala-Lys-AMCA). Expression of SLC15-specific mRNA transcripts was analyzed by RT-PCR. Of the two SLC15 transporters expressed in thyroid follicular cells, namely PEPT2 (SLC15A2) and PHT1 (SLC15A4), only PEPT2 was involved in peptide transport at the plasma membrane, with PHT1 most likely being intracellular. Interestingly, at the mRNA level PEPT2 was up-regulated under TSH stimulation. These findings represent the first evidence that peptide transport occurs in thyroid follicular cells. SLC15 transporters could participate to recycling of peptides derived from extracellular and lysosomal thyroglobulin proteolysis, both essential steps for thyroid hormone synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni, I-73100 Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kottra
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Storelli
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Verri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074011:Peptide Transporter 1; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D027981:Symporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000074011:Peptide Transporter 1; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C489940:Slc15a1 protein, rat; C429144:Slc15a3 protein, rat; C105521:Slc15a4 protein, rat; D027981:Symporters; C093694:hydrogen-coupled oligopeptide transporter PepT2; D013972:Thyrotropin