Monocarboxylate transporter expression in mouse brain

Am J Physiol. 1998 Sep;275(3):E516-24. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.1998.275.3.E516.

Abstract

Although glucose is the major metabolic fuel needed for normal brain function, monocarboxylic acids, i.e., lactate, pyruvate, and ketone bodies, can also be utilized by the brain as alternative energy substrates. In most mammalian cells, these substrates are transported either into or out of the cell by a family of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), first cloned and sequenced in the hamster. We have recently cloned two MCT isoforms (MCT1 and MCT2) from a mouse kidney cDNA library. Northern blot analysis revealed that MCT1 mRNA is ubiquitous and can be detected in most tissues at a relatively constant level. MCT2 expression is more limited, with high levels of expression confined to testes, kidney, stomach, and liver and lower levels in lung, brain, and epididymal fat. Both MCT1 mRNA and MCT2 mRNA are detected in mouse brain using antisense riboprobes and in situ hybridization. MCT1 mRNA is found throughout the cortex, with higher levels of hybridization in hippocampus and cerebellum. MCT2 mRNA was detected in the same areas, but the pattern of expression was more specific. In addition, MCT1 mRNA, but not MCT2, is localized to the choroid plexus, ependyma, microvessels, and white matter structures such as the corpus callosum. These results suggest a differential expression of the two MCTs at the cellular level.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cricetinae
  • Epididymis / metabolism
  • Gene Library
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters
  • Organ Specificity
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Testis / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Slc16a7 protein, mouse