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Vesicular GABA transporter ( VGAT) is expressed in GABAergic and glycinergic neurons, and is responsible for vesicular storage and subsequent exocytosis of these inhibitory amino acids. In this study, we show that VGAT recognizes β-alanine as a substrate. Proteoliposomes containing purified VGAT transport β-alanine using Δψ but not ΔpH as a driving force. The Δψ-driven β-alanine uptake requires Cl−. VGAT also facilitates Cl− uptake in the presence of β-alanine. A previously described VGAT mutant (Glu213Ala) that disrupts GABA and glycine transport similarly abrogates β-alanine uptake. These findings indicated that VGAT transports β-alanine through a mechanism similar to those for GABA and glycine, and functions as a vesicular β-alanine transporter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 1-5. Abstract Sialin, the protein coded by SLC17A5, is responsible for membrane potential (Δψ)-driven aspartate and glutamate transport into synaptic vesicles in addition to H+/sialic acid co-transport in lysosomes. Rodent sialin mutants harboring the mutations associated with Salla disease in humans did not transport aspartate and glutamate whereas H+/sialic acid co-transport activity was about one-third of the wild-type protein. In this study, we investigate the effects of various mutations on the transport activities of human sialin. Proteoliposomes containing purified heterologously expressed human sialin exhibited both Δψ-driven aspartate and glutamate transport activity and H+/sialic acid co-transport activity. Aspartate and glutamate transport was not detected in the R39C and K136E mutant forms of SLC17A5 protein associated with Salla disease, whereas H+/sialic acid co-transport activity corresponded to 30-50% of the recombinant wild-type protein. In contrast, SLC17A5 protein harboring the mutations associated with infantile sialic acid storage disease, H183R and Δ268SSLRN272 still showed normal levels of Δψ-driven aspartate and glutamate transport even though H+/sialic acid co-transport activity was absent. Human sialin carrying the G328E mutation that causes both phenotypes, and P334R and G378V mutations that cause infantile sialic acid storage disease showed no transport activity. These results support the idea that people suffering from Salla disease have been defective in aspartergic and glutamatergic neurotransmissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT) is responsible for the vesicular storage ofl-glutamate, and plays an essential role in glutamate-mediated intercellular signal transmission in the CNS and in some neuroendocrine cells. Intestinal L cells are the glucose-responsive neuroendocrine cells responsible for the secretion of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). We have shown that intestinal L cells express VGLUT2, a VGLUT isoform, which suggests that L cells secretel-glutamate. In the present study, we investigated this possibility using GLUTag mouse clonal L cells. RT–PCR and northern blot analyses revealed expression of the VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 genes, but not of the VGLUT3 gene. Western blot analysis revealed immunological counterparts for VGLUT2, whereas an immunological counterpart of VGLUT1 was not detected. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy revealed a punctate distribution of VGLUT2 immunoreactivity throughout the cells, which co-localized with GLP-1. Double-labeling immunoelectronmicroscopy confirmed the association of VGLUT2 with GLP-1-containing secretory granules. The membrane fraction exhibited ATP-dependentl-glutamate uptake, which was sensitive to bafilomycin A1 (a vacuolar proton ATPase inhibitor) and Evans blue (a VGLUT inhibitor) but insensitive tod,l-aspartate. Upon depolarization with KCl, GLUTag cells secreted appreciable amounts ofl-glutamate and GLP-1.d-Glucose and methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside, stimulators of exocytosis of GLP-1, also triggered the secretion ofl-glutamate. Thel-glutamate secretion was partially dependent on Ca2+ and sensitive to bafilomycin A1. These results demonstrated that GLUTag cells storedl-glutamate in secretory granules and secreted it with GLP-1 by exocytosis. As GLUTag cells and intestinal L cells express kainate receptors and plasma membrane glutamate transporters, these results support the concept ofl-glutamate-mediated intercellular signaling in the vicinity of intestinal L cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a precursor and a putative modulator for melatonin synthesis in mammalian pinealocytes. 5-HT is present in organelles distinct from L-glutamate-containing synaptic-like microvesicles as well as in the cytoplasm of pinealocytes, and is secreted upon stimulation by norepinephrine (NE) to enhance serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity via the 5-HT[sub 2] receptor. However, the mechanism underlying the secretion of 5-HT from pinealocytes is unknown. In this study, we show that NE-evoked release of 5-HT is largely dependent on Ca[sup 2+] in rat pinealocytes in culture. Omission of Ca[sup 2+] from the medium and incubation of pineal cells with EGTA-tetraacetoxymethyl-ester inhibited by 59 and 97% the NE-evoked 5-HT release, respectively. Phenylephrine also triggered the Ca[sup 2+]-dependent release of 5-HT, which was blocked by phentolamine, an α antagonist, but not by propranolol, a β antagonist. Botulinum neurotoxin type E cleaved 25 kDa synaptosomal-associated protein and inhibited by 50% of the NE-evoked 5-HT release. Bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of vacuolar H[sup +]-ATPase, and reserpine and tetrabenazine, inhibitors of vesicular monoamine transporter, all decreased the storage of vesicular 5-HT followed by inhibition of the NE-evoked 5-HT release. Agents that trigger L-glutamte exocytosis such as acetylcholine did not trigger any Ca[sup 2+]-dependent 5-HT release. Vice versa neither NE nor phenylephrine caused synaptic-like microvesicle-mediated L-glutamate exocytosis. These results indicated that upon stimulation of a adrenoceptors pinealocytes secrete 5-HT through a Ca[sup 2+]-dependent exocytotic mechanism, which is distinct from the exocytosis of synaptic-like microvesicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The mammalian pineal gland uses L-glutamate as an intercellular chemical transmitter to regulate negatively melatonin synthesis. To receive glutamate signals, pinealocytes express at least three kinds of glutamate receptors: metabotropic receptor types 3 and 5 and an ionotropic receptor, GluR1. In this study, we examined whether or not the fourth class of ionotropic receptor, δ, which is known for its nondefinitive molecular function and its unique expression pattern in brain, is expressed in pineal gland. RT-PCR analyses with specific probes indicated the expression of mRNA of δ2 but not that of δ1 in pineal gland and cultured pineal cells. Western blotting analysis with polyclonal antibodies specific to the carboxyl-terminal region of the δ2 receptor recognized a single 110-kDa polypeptide of cerebellar membranes and specifically immunostained Purkinje cells. The δ2 antibodies recognized a 110-kDa polypeptide of pineal membranes and specifically immunostained huge glial-like cells with the occasional presence of several long, branching processes in a pineal cell culture. δ2 is not uniformly distributed throughout the cells and is relatively abundant at the periphery of the cell bodies and long processes, where the terminals of synaptophysin-positive processes of pinealocytes, a site for glutamate secretion, are frequently present. The δ2-positive cells constitute a very minor population among total pineal cells (∼0.03%). Double immunolabeling with δ2 antibodies and antibodies against marker proteins for pineal interstitial cells clearly distinguishes δ2-positive pineal cells and other known interstitial cells, including glial fibrillary acidic protein- or vimentin-positive glial-like cells. These results indicated that the δ2 glutamate receptor is expressed in a novel subpopulation of pineal glial-like cells in culture and suggest the presence of a glutamate-mediated intercellular... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rat pinealocytes receive noradrenergic innervation that stimulates melatonin synthesis. Besides melatonin, we showed previously that pinealocytes accumulate L-glutamate in microvesicles and secrete it through an exocytic mechanism. The secreted glutamate binds to the class II metabotropic glutamate receptor and inhibits norepinephrine-stimulated melatonin synthesis in neighboring pinealocytes through an inhibitory cyclic AMP cascade. In this study, it was found that, in addition to metabotropic receptors, pinealocytes express functional ionotropic receptors. RT-PCR and northern analyses indicated the expression of mRNA for GluR1, KA2, and NR2C in pineal gland. The presence of GluR1 protein was confirmed by immunological techniques, but neither KA2 nor NR2C was detected. Consistent with this observation, the presence of (RS)-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid or kainate, non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonists, transiently stimulated increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration of cultured pinealocytes, whereas N-methyl-D-aspartate did not. These responses were prevented by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, a selective antagonist for non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, by L-type Ca2+ channel blockers such as nifedipine, or by omitting Ca2+ or Na+ in the medium. In the presence of Ca2+ and Na+, (RS)-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid or kainate evoked glutamate secretion from the cultured cells, which was prevented by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, L-type Ca2+ channel blockers, type E or B botulinum neurotoxin, or incubation at <20°C. These results strongly suggest that GluR1 is functionally expressed in pinealocytes and triggers microvesicle-mediated exocytosis of L-glutamate via activation of L-type Ca2+ channels. It is possible that GluR1 participates in a signaling cascade that enhances and expands the L-glutamate signal throughout the pineal gland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs) are involved in chemical transduction in monoaminergic neurons and various endocrine cells through the storage of monoamines in secretory vesicles. Mammalian pinealocytes contain more 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) than any other cells and are expected on contain VMAT, although no information is available so far. Upon the addition of ATP, radiolabeled 5-HT was taken up by a particulate fraction prepared from cultured rat pinealocytes. The 5-HT uptake was inhibited significantly by bafilomycin A1 (an inhibitor of vacuolar H+-ATPase), 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyli-denemalononitrile (a proton conductor), or reserpine (an inhibitor of VMAT). RT-PCR analysis suggested that VMAT type 1 (VMAT1), but not type 2, is expressed. Antibodies against VMAT1 recognized a single polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of ~55 kDa, and specifically immunostained pinealocytes. VMAT1 immunoreactivity was high in the vesicular structures in the varicosities of long branching processes and was associated with 5-HT, but not with synaptophysin, a marker protein for microvesicles. The 5-HT immunoreactivity in the long branching processes disappeared upon incubation with reserpine. These results indicate that 5-HT, at least in part, is stored in vesicles other than microvesicles in pinealocytes through a mechanism similar to that of various secretory vesicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]