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Browsing by Author "The GABA transporters %28GAT1%2C GAT2%2C GAT3%2C and BGT1%29%0D%0Ahave mostly been discussed in relation to their potential roles in%0D%0Acontrolling the action of transmitter GABA in the nervous system.%0D%0AWe have generated the first mice lacking the GAT2%0D%0A%28slc6a13%29 gene. Deletion of GAT2 %28both mRNA and protein%29 neither%0D%0Aaffected growth%2C fertility%2C nor life span under nonchallenging%0D%0Arearing conditions. Immunocytochemistry showed that the%0D%0AGAT2 protein was predominantly expressed in the plasma%0D%0Amembranes of periportal hepatocytes and in the basolateral%0D%0Amembranes of proximal tubules in the renal cortex. This was%0D%0Avalidated by processing tissue from wild-type and knockout%0D%0Amice in parallel. Deletion of GAT2 reduced liver taurine levels%0D%0Aby 50%25%2C without affecting the expression of the taurine transporter%0D%0ATAUT. These results suggest an important role for GAT2%0D%0Ain taurine uptake from portal blood into liver. In support of this%0D%0Anotion%2C GAT2-transfected HEK293 cells transported %5B3%0D%0AH%5Dtaurine.%0D%0AFurthermore%2C most of the uptake of %5B3%0D%0AH%5DGABA by cultured%0D%0Arat hepatocytes was due to GAT2%2C and this uptake was inhibited%0D%0Aby taurine. GAT2 was not detected in brain parenchyma proper%2C%0D%0Aexcluding a role in GABA inactivation. It was%2C however%2C%0D%0Aexpressed in the leptomeninges and in a subpopulation of brain%0D%0Ablood vessels. Deletion of GAT2 increased brain taurine levels%0D%0Aby 20%25%2C suggesting a taurine-exporting role for GAT2 in the%0D%0Abrain."