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Here we report the cloning and functional characterization of a rat novel peptide/histidine transporter (PHT1), which was expressed in the brain and the retina. The cDNA encodes the predicted protein of 572 amino acid residues with 12 putative membrane-spanning domains. The amino acid sequence has moderate homology with a nonspecific peptide transporter found in the plant. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, PHT1 cRNA induced high affinity proton-dependent histidine transport activity. This transport process was inhibited by dipeptides and tripeptides but not by free amino acids such as glutamate, glycine, leucine, methionine, and aspartate. Dipeptide carnosine transport activity was also confirmed by direct uptake measurement. By in situ hybridization analysis, PHT1 mRNA was widely distributed throughout whole brain. Especially, intense hybridization signals were found in the hippocampus, choroid plexus, cerebellum, and pontine nucleus. Signals were located in both the neuronal and small nonneuronal cells in these areas. PHT1 protein could contribute to uptake of oligopeptides, which function as neuromodulators, and clearance of degraded neuropeptides and be a new member in the growing superfamily of proton-coupled peptide and nitrate transporters, although its structure, localization, and pharmacological characteristics are unique among these members.

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Subscribe to PCMR and stay up-to-date with the only journal committed to publishing basic research in melanoma and pigment cell biology As a member of the IFPCS or the SMR you automatically get online access to PCMR. Sign up as a member today at www.ifpcs.org or at www.societymelanomaresarch.org SummaryRhododendrol, an inhibitor of melanin synthesis developed for lightening/whitening cosmetics, was recently reported to induce a depigmentary disorder principally at the sites of repeated chemical contact. Rhododendrol competitively inhibited mushroom tyrosinase and served as a good substrate, while it also showed cytotoxicity against cultured human melanocytes at high concentrations sufficient for inhibiting tyrosinase. The cytotoxicity was abolished by phenylthiourea, a chelator of the copper ions at the active site, and by specific knockdown of tyrosinase with siRNA. Hence, the cytotoxicity appeared to be triggered by the enzymatic conversion of rhododendrol to active product(s). No reactive oxygen species were detected in the treated melanocytes, but up-regulation of the CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein gene responsible for apoptosis and/ or autophagy and caspase-3 activation were found to be tyrosinase dependent. These results suggest that a tyrosinase-dependent accumulation of ER stress and/or activation of the apoptotic pathway may contribute to the melanocyte cytotoxicity.

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Na+/Cl(-)-dependent glycine transporters are crucial for the termination of neurotransmission at glycinergic synapses. Two different glycine transporter genes, GlyT1 and GlyT2, have been described. Several isoforms differing in their 5′ ends originate from the GlyT1 gene. We have determined the genomic structure of the murine GlyT1 gene to elucidate the genetic basis underlying the different isoforms. Analysis of cDNA 5′-ends revealed that the GlyT1a and 1b/1c mRNAs are transcribed from two different promoters. During murine embryonic development GlyT1 mRNAs were detectable by RNase protection assays as early as embryonic day E9 and reached maximal levels between E13 and E15. In situ hybridization revealed GlyT1 expression in the developing spinal cord mainly in the ventral part of the ventricular zone at E12. At later stages (E15) transcripts were also found in the lateral half of the basal and intermediate gray matter. In contrast, the second glycine transporter gene GlyT2 displayed a completely different expression pattern. At E11 it is expressed in the mantle zone, and at later stages throughout the ventral horns. In the adult rat brain and spinal cord, GlyT1 hybridization signals were found exclusively in glial cells. Our data indicate that GlyT1 is an early marker of neural development and encodes glia-specific transporter proteins.