CHROMOSOMAL MAPPING OF THE HUMAN GENE FOR THE TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANT-SENSITIVE NORADRENALINE TRANSPORTER

The neuronal Na+- and Cl--dependent transporter for the neurotransmitt er noradrenaline (NA) is the primary target for the tricyclic antidepr essant desipramine. The NA-transporter belongs to a new gene family of structurally related Na+- and Cl--dependent neurotransmitter transpor ters. In this study, the chromosomal localization for the gene encodin g, the human NA-transporter (h-NAT) was determined. By hybridization o f a panel of somatic cell hybrids and by fluorescent in situ hybridiza tion to metaphase chromosomes, the hNAT gene was localized on chromoso me 16q12.2. In addition, evidence is presented for an intron-exon stru cture of the gene.