The Caenorhabditis elegans snf-11 gene encodes a sodium-dependent GABA transporter required for clearance of synaptic GABA.

Molecular Biology of the Cell
Gregory P MullenJ B Rand

Abstract

Sodium-dependent neurotransmitter transporters participate in the clearance and/or recycling of neurotransmitters from synaptic clefts. The snf-11 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans encodes a protein of high similarity to mammalian GABA transporters (GATs). We show here that snf-11 encodes a functional GABA transporter; SNF-11-mediated GABA transport is Na+ and Cl- dependent, has an EC50 value of 168 microM, and is blocked by the GAT1 inhibitor SKF89976A. The SNF-11 protein is expressed in seven GABAergic neurons, several additional neurons in the head and retrovesicular ganglion, and three groups of muscle cells. Therefore, all GABAergic synapses are associated with either presynaptic or postsynaptic (or both) expression of SNF-11. Although a snf-11 null mutation has no obvious effects on GABAergic behaviors, it leads to resistance to inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. In vivo, a snf-11 null mutation blocks GABA uptake in at least a subset of GABAergic cells; in a cell culture system, all GABA uptake is abolished by the snf-11 mutation. We conclude that GABA transport activity is not essential for normal GABAergic function in C. elegans and that the localization of SNF-11 is consistent with a GABA clearance function rather than r...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 12, 2013·Nature Neuroscience·Aude S PedenErik M Jorgensen
May 27, 2011·Journal of Neurophysiology·Christian SchultheisAlexander Gottschalk
Dec 12, 2007·PLoS Genetics·Brendan A GavinPatrick J Dolph
Jan 26, 2012·PLoS Genetics·Yingsong HaoJoshua M Kaplan
May 17, 2008·Neurogastroenterology and Motility : the Official Journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society·K SetoJ Tack
Aug 21, 2013·PLoS Pathogens·Lucien RufenerAlessandro Puoti
Sep 4, 2012·Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology·Salma Z SiddiquiSean G Forrester
Oct 14, 2016·International Journal for Parasitology. Drugs and Drug Resistance·Maeghan O'NeillTimothy G Geary
May 12, 2019·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Scott T SmallPeter A Zimmerman

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