High expression of the taurine transporter TauT in primary cilia of NIH3T3 fibroblasts

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Taurine, present in high concentrations in various mammalian cells, is essential for regulation of cell volume, cellular oxidative status as well as the cellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Cellular taurine content is a balance between active uptake through the saturable, Na+-dependent taurine transporter TauT, and passive release via a volume-sensitive leak pathway. Here we demonstrate that: (i) TauT localizes to the primary cilium of growth-arrested NIH3T3 fibroblasts, (ii) long-term exposure to TNFa or hypertonic sucrose medium, i.e., growth medium supplemented with 100 mM sucrose, increases ciliary TauT expression and (iii) long-term exposure to hypertonic taurine medium, i.e., growth medium supplemented with 100 mM taurine, reduces ciliary TauT expression. These results point to an important role of taurine in the regulation of physiological processes located to the primary cilium.
Original languageEnglish
JournalCell Biology International
Volume29
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)347-351
ISSN1065-6995
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Taurine transporter; NIH3T3 cells; Primary cilia; Ca2+ homeostasis; Ion channels; Tumour necrosis factor a

ID: 1093370