Molecular aspects of the neuronal noradrenaline transporter

The neuronal noradrenaline transporter was partially purified by means of low and high pressure liquid chromatography using anion exchange, gel filtration and lectin affinity columns. A protein characterized by a molecular weight of 50-53 kilodalton was enriched; it may represent the transporter or a component of it. In addition, a RNA fraction characterized by a mean size of 2 kilobases was isolated from PC12 rat phaeochromocytoma cells and from bovine adrenal medulla; this RNA fraction caused expression of the noradrenaline transporter after microinjection into Xenopus laevis oocytes.