CLONING AND EXPRESSION OF THE BOVINE SODIUM-DEPENDENT AND CHLORIDE-DEPENDENT NORADRENALINE TRANSPORTER

A cDNA encoding a functional bovine, tricyclic antidepressant-sensitiv e noradrenaline transporter has been identified by screening a lambda gt11 cDNA library of the bovine adrenal medulla using the cDNA of the human noradrenaline transporter 1991, Nature 350, 350-354. The seque nce predicts a protein of 615 amino acids (M(r) 68 900). The bovine tr ansporter shares 93% amino acid identity with the human sequence, but displays two more consensus sites for phosphorylation by protein kinas e C. Transient expression of the transporter in COS-7 cells resulted i n a sodium- and chloride-dependent uptake of noradrenaline with a phar macology typical for a neuronal noradrenaline transporter.