Background of the antigen
The GAT1 gene family includes sodium- and chloride-dependent plasma membrane transporters for neurotransmitters, metabolites and osmolites, which couple substrate flux to transmembrane electrochemical gradients. PROT (Sodium-dependent proline transporter), also known as Solute carrier family 6 member 7, is a 636 amino acid multi-pass membrane protein that is a GAT1 family member specifically expressed in regions of the brain. PROT terminates the action of proline by its high affinity sodium/chloride-dependent reuptake into pre-synaptic terminals. Enriched in glutamatergic synaptic terminals, it is likely that PROT plays an important role in excitatory events of neurotransmission. PROT-mediated proline uptake is inhibited by compounds such as benztropine, LP-403812 and Des-Tyr-Leu-enkephalin (GGFL). These inhibitors of proline uptake may lead to the development of therapeutic agents for certain neurologic disorders.
