Sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter B(0)AT2 explained

Sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter B(0)AT2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC6A15 gene.^[1]

Function

SLC6A15 shows structural characteristics of an Na⁺ and Cl⁻-dependent neurotransmitter transporter, including 12 transmembrane (TM) domains, intracellular N and C termini, and large extracellular loops containing multiple N-glycosylation sites.^[2]

Clinical relevance

Variants of this gene linked with depression are associated with reduced SLC6A15 expression in the human hippocampus, as well as decreased volume of this brain region.^[3]

Further reading

• Bröer A, Tietze N, Kowalczuk S, Chubb S, Munzinger M, Bak LK, Bröer S . The orphan transporter v7-3 (slc6a15) is a Na+-dependent neutral amino acid transporter (B0AT2) . The Biochemical Journal . 393 . Pt 1 . 421–30 . Jan 2006 . 16185194 . 1383701 . 10.1042/BJ20051273 .
• Zaia KA, Reimer RJ . Synaptic Vesicle Protein NTT4/XT1 (SLC6A17) Catalyzes Na+-coupled Neutral Amino Acid Transport . The Journal of Biological Chemistry . 284 . 13 . 8439–48 . Mar 2009 . 19147495 . 2659202 . 10.1074/jbc.M806407200 . free .
• Bonaldo MF, Lennon G, Soares MB . Normalization and subtraction: two approaches to facilitate gene discovery . Genome Research . 6 . 9 . 791–806 . Sep 1996 . 8889548 . 10.1101/gr.6.9.791 . free .
• Bröer S . Amino acid transport across mammalian intestinal and renal epithelia . Physiological Reviews . 88 . 1 . 249–86 . Jan 2008 . 18195088 . 10.1152/physrev.00018.2006 .
• Takanaga H, Mackenzie B, Peng JB, Hediger MA . Characterization of a branched-chain amino-acid transporter SBAT1 (SLC6A15) that is expressed in human brain . Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications . 337 . 3 . 892–900 . Nov 2005 . 16226721 . 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.09.128 .
• Masson J, Sagné C, Hamon M, El Mestikawy S . Neurotransmitter transporters in the central nervous system . Pharmacological Reviews . 51 . 3 . 439–64 . Sep 1999 . 10471414 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: Entrez Gene: solute carrier family 6 (neutral amino acid transporter).
2. Farmer MK, Robbins MJ, Medhurst AD, Campbell DA, Ellington K, Duckworth M, Brown AM, Middlemiss DN, Price GW, Pangalos MN . Cloning and characterization of human NTT5 and v7-3: two orphan transporters of the Na+/Cl- -dependent neurotransmitter transporter gene family . Genomics . 70 . 2 . 241–52 . Dec 2000 . 11112352 . 10.1006/geno.2000.6387 .
3. Kohli MA, Lucae S, Saemann PG, Schmidt MV, Demirkan A, Hek K, Czamara D, Alexander M, Salyakina D, Ripke S, Hoehn D, Specht M, Menke A, Hennings J, Heck A, Wolf C, Ising M, Schreiber S, Czisch M, Müller MB, Uhr M, Bettecken T, Becker A, Schramm J, Rietschel M, Maier W, Bradley B, Ressler KJ, Nöthen MM, Cichon S, Craig IW, Breen G, Lewis CM, Hofman A, Tiemeier H, van Duijn CM, Holsboer F, Müller-Myhsok B, Binder EB . The neuronal transporter gene SLC6A15 confers risk to major depression . Neuron . 70 . 2 . 252–65 . Apr 2011 . 21521612 . 3112053 . 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.04.005 .