Identification and characterization of the high-affinity choline transporter

Nat Neurosci. 2000 Feb;3(2):120-5. doi: 10.1038/72059.

Abstract

In cholinergic neurons, high-affinity choline uptake in presynaptic terminals is the rate-limiting step in acetylcholine synthesis. Using information provided by the Caenorhabditis elegans Genome Project, we cloned a cDNA encoding the high-affinity choline transporter from C. elegans (cho-1). We subsequently used this clone to isolate the corresponding cDNA from rat (CHT1). CHT1 is not homologous to neurotransmitter transporters, but is homologous to members of the Na+-dependent glucose transporter family. Expression of CHT1 mRNA is restricted to cholinergic neurons. The characteristics of CHT1-mediated choline uptake essentially match those of high-affinity choline uptake in rat brain synaptosomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Binding, Competitive / drug effects
  • CHO Cells
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Choline / metabolism
  • Choline / pharmacokinetics
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cricetinae
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Hemicholinium 3 / pharmacology
  • Membrane Transport Proteins*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Oocytes / cytology
  • Oocytes / metabolism
  • Organ Specificity
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Rats
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Sodium / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • choline transporter
  • Hemicholinium 3
  • Sodium
  • Choline