Anti-Serotonin Transporter (SERT)

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), MW 176, is a catecholamine , a monoamine neurotransmitter, found in abundance in the central nervous system, platelets, brain and spinal cord as well as secreted by enterochromaffin cells (EC or Kulchitsky cells, a type of enteroendocrine cell occurring in the epithelia lining the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract) in the stomach, intestines, appendix and in endocrine cells along the gut and in carcinoid tumors. Platelets and mast cells are rich in serotonin. Serotonin plays important physiological functions at the intestinal level. Human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cellls functionally express SERT both at their apical and basolateral cell membranes. It is a 630aa residue in human (chromosome 17q11), rat and mouse. The serotonin transporter (SERT) is a monoamine transporter protein. This protein is an integral membrane protein that transports the neurotransmitter serotonin from synaptic spaces into presynaptic neurons. This transport of serotonin by the SERT protein terminates the action of serotonin and recycles it in a sodium-dependent manner. This protein is a target of psychomotor stimulants, such as amphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA, and is a member of the sodium:neurotransmitter symporter family. A repeat length polymorphism in the promoter of this gene has been shown to affect the rate of serotonin uptake and may play a role in sudden infant death syndrome, aggressive behavior in Alzheimer disease patients, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression-susceptibility in people experiencing emotional trauma. SERT reuptakes serotonin in the synaptic cleft and terminates its function. It allows neurons, platelets, and other cells to accumulate the chemical neurotransmitter serotonin, which affects emotions and drives. , Neurons communicate by using chemical messages like serotonin between cells. The transporter protein, by recycling serotonin, regulates its concentration in a gap, or synapse, and thus its effects on a receiving neuron's receptor. Medical studies have shown that changes in serotonin transporter metabolism appear to be associated with many different phenomena, including alcoholism, clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), romantic love, hypertension and generalized social phobia. SERT spans the plasma membrane 12 times. It belongs to NE, DA, SERT monoamine transporter family. Transporters are important sites for agents that treat psychiatric disorders. Drugs that reduce the binding of serotonin to transporters (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs) are used to treat mental disorders. About half of patients with OCD are treated with SSRIs. Fluoxetine is an example of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Applications: Suitable for use in ELISA. Western Blot, though not tested, may potentially be used as an application. Other applications not tested. Recommended Dilution: Western Blot: 1-10ug/ml (ECL). Antibody activity may be reduced considerably when detecting endogenous SERT from rat or human cells. SERT has been observed to migrate as 94kD (rat platelet), 80kD (pulmonary membranes), and 76kD (rat brain) (2). This could be due to differences in postranslational modifications (e.g., glycosylation)., ELISA: 0.5-1ug/ml. Coat ELISA plates with 50-100ng SERT control peptide/well. , Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher. Control Peptide: S1001-29: Serotonin Transporter, Rat (SERT), Storage and Stability: May be stored at 4°C for short-term only. For long-term storage, aliquot and store at -20°C. Aliquots are stable for at least 12 months at -20°C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.