Serotonin transporter untranslated regions influence mRNA abundance and protein expression.

Gene Reports
Christopher R ManzellaRavinder K Gill

Abstract

The serotonin transporter (SERT, SLC6A4) is a Na+-dependent transporter that regulates the availability of serotonin (5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine), a key neurotransmitter and hormone in the brain and the intestine. The human SERT gene consists of two alternate promoters that drive expression of an identical SERT protein. However, there are different mRNA transcript variants derived from these two promoters that differ in their 5' untranslated region (5'UTR), which is the region of the mRNA upstream from the protein-coding region. Two of these transcripts contain exon-1a and are abundant in neuronal tissue, whereas the third transcript contains exon-1c and is abundant in the intestine. The 3'UTR is nearly identical among the transcripts. Current studies tested the hypothesis that the UTRs of SERT influence its expression in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) by controlling mRNA or protein levels. The SERT UTRs were cloned into luciferase reporter plasmids and luciferase mRNA and activity were measured following transient transfection of the UTR constructs into the model IEC Caco-2. Luciferase activity and mRNA abundance were higher than the empty vector for two of the three 5'UTR variants. Calculation of translation index (lucifer...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 30, 2020·American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology·Nathaniel W HoltonRavinder K Gill

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