A human synaptic vesicle monoamine transporter cDNA predicts posttranslational modifications, reveals chromosome 10 gene localization and identifies TaqI RFLPs

Abstract

A human vesicular monoamine transporter cDNA has been identified by screening a human brainstem library using sequences from the rat brain synaptic vesicle monoamine transporter (SVMT) [(1992) Cell 70, 539‐551; (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 10993‐10997]. The hSVMT shares 92% amino acid identity with the rat sequence, but displays one less consensus site for asparagine N‐linked glycosylation and one more consensus site for phosphorylation by protein kinase C. The human SVMT gene maps to chromosome 10q25 using Southern blotting analysis of human/rodent hybrid cell lines and fluorescent in situ hybridization approaches. The cDNA, and a subclone, recognize TaqI polymorphisms that may prove useful to assess this gene's involvement in neuropsychiatric disorders involving monoaminergic brain systems.