Cloning and expression of the bovine sodium- and chloride-dependent noradrenaline transporter.

A cDNA encoding a functional bovine, tricyclic antidepressant-sensitive 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 sequence predicts a protein of 615 amino acids (M(r) 68,900). The bovine transporter shares 93% amino acid identity with the human sequence, but displays two more consensus sites for phosphorylation by protein kinase C. Transient expression of the transporter in COS-7 cells resulted in a sodium- and chloride-dependent uptake of noradrenaline with a pharmacology typical for a neuronal noradrenaline transporter.