Adrenergic Transporter Substrates

Adrenergic transporters (NET) are sodium- and chloride-dependent members of the solute carrier family 6 (SLC6) widely distributed throughout the brain within noradrenergic neuronal plasma membranes. They are responsible for the re-uptake of adrenalin, noradrenalin and (to a lesser extent) dopamine from the synaptic cleft back into vesicles for storage until later use, resulting in the termination of neurotransmitter action.

Adrenergic transporters contain the following structural motifs: 12-TM domains, extracellular loops, cytoplasmic C- and N-termini and putative phosphorylation sites. A role for NETs has been proposed in attention deficit disorder, substance abuse, neurodegenerative disorders and clinical depression.