IMMUNODETECTION OF SEROTONIN TRANSPORTER FROM MOUSE-BRAIN

A DNA fragment encoding amino acid sequences from the amino terminal r egion of the mouse serotonin transporter was isolated and sequenced. T his transporter is widely distributed throughout the mouse brain, as d educed by heminested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) assays. To identify the serotonin transporter protein, we have developed specific antibodies against a fusion protein containing its amino terminal region, a domain which shows a low degree of homology between the different neurotransmitter transporters. Western blot anal ysis of mouse brain membranes detected the serotonin transporter as a 71 kDa polypeptide.