RGD Reference Report - γ-Aminobutyric acid transporter 2 mediates the hepatic uptake of guanidinoacetate, the creatine biosynthetic precursor, in rats. - Rat Genome Database

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γ-Aminobutyric acid transporter 2 mediates the hepatic uptake of guanidinoacetate, the creatine biosynthetic precursor, in rats.

Authors: Tachikawa, Masanori  Ikeda, Saori  Fujinawa, Jun  Hirose, Shirou  Akanuma, Shin-ichi  Hosoya, Ken-ichi 
Citation: Tachikawa M, etal., PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e32557. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032557. Epub 2012 Feb 27.
RGD ID: 30309936
Pubmed: PMID:22384273   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC3288109   (View Article at PubMed Central)
DOI: DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0032557   (Journal Full-text)

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the biosynthetic precursor of creatine which is involved in storage and transmission of phosphate-bound energy. Hepatocytes readily convert GAA to creatine, raising the possibility that the active uptake of GAA by hepatocytes is a regulatory factor. The purpose of this study is to investigate and identify the transporter responsible for GAA uptake by hepatocytes. The characteristics of [(14)C]GAA uptake by hepatocytes were elucidated using the in vivo liver uptake method, freshly isolated rat hepatocytes, an expression system of Xenopus laevis oocytes, gene knockdown, and an immunohistochemical technique. In vivo injection of [(14)C]GAA into the rat femoral vein and portal vein results in the rapid uptake of [(14)C]GAA by the liver. The uptake was markedly inhibited by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and nipecotinic acid, an inhibitor of GABA transporters (GATs). The characteristics of Na(+)- and Cl(-)-dependent [(14)C]GAA uptake by freshly isolated rat hepatocytes were consistent with those of GAT2. The Km value of the GAA uptake (134 µM) was close to that of GAT2-mediated GAA transport (78.9 µM). GABA caused a marked inhibition with an IC(50) value of 8.81 µM. The [(14)C]GAA uptake exhibited a significant reduction corresponding to the reduction in GAT2 protein expression. GAT2 was localized on the sinusoidal membrane of the hepatocytes predominantly in the periportal region. This distribution pattern was consistent with that of the creatine biosynthetic enzyme, S-adenosylmethionine:guanidinoacetate N-methyltransferase. GAT2 makes a major contribution to the sinusoidal GAA uptake by periportal hepatocytes, thus regulating creatine biosynthesis in the liver.



Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process

  
Object SymbolSpeciesTermQualifierEvidenceWithNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Slc6a13Ratcreatine transmembrane transport involved_inIDA PMID:22384273ARUK-UCL 
Slc6a13Ratnitrogen compound transport involved_inIMP PMID:22384273ARUK-UCL 

Cellular Component

  
Object SymbolSpeciesTermQualifierEvidenceWithNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Slc6a13Ratplasma membrane located_inIDA PMID:22384273ARUK-UCL 

Molecular Function

  
Object SymbolSpeciesTermQualifierEvidenceWithNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Slc6a13Ratcreatine transmembrane transporter activity enablesIDA PMID:22384273ARUK-UCL 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Slc6a13  (solute carrier family 6 member 13)


Additional Information