The serotonin transporter (SERT or 5-HTT) also known as the sodium-dependent serotonin transporter and solute carrier family 6 member 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC6A4 gene.[5] SERT is a type of monoamine transporter protein that transports the neurotransmitter serotonin from the synaptic cleft back to the presynaptic neuron, in a process known as serotonin reuptake.[6]
This transport of serotonin by the SERT protein terminates the action of serotonin and recycles it in a sodium-dependent manner. Many antidepressant medications of the SSRI and tricyclic antidepressant classes work by binding to SERT and thus reducing serotonin reuptake.[7] It 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.[8]
- ^ a b c GRCh38: Ensembl release 89: ENSG00000108576 – Ensembl, May 2017
- ^ a b c GRCm38: Ensembl release 89: ENSMUSG00000020838 – Ensembl, May 2017
- ^ "Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ^ "Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ^ "SLC6A4 Gene (Protein Coding)".
- ^ "SLC6A4 - Sodium-dependent serotonin transporter - Homo sapiens (Human) - SLC6A4 gene & protein".
- ^ Squire L, Berg D, Bloom FE, du Lac S, Ghosh A, Spitzer NC, eds. (2008). Fundamental neuroscience (3rd ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier / Academic Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-12-374019-9.
- ^ "Entrez Gene: SLC6A4 solute carrier family 6 (neurotransmitter transporter, serotonin), member 4".