Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are essential for cell survival and normal cellular functions as they are the key precursors to numerous cellular pathways and processes. Availability of amino acids exhibit vital role in regulation of gene expression in all mammalian cells. Transporter proteins mediate transport of amino acids across the plasma membrane. In this study, complete amino acid starvation was performed on the hypothalamic cell line 25/2 from mouse to investigate the regulation of gene expression of amino acid transporters. We monitored up and down regulation in transcription of genes encoding solute carriers (Slcs) with a primary focus on amino acid transporters. Amino acid transporters from system A, L, xc, y+ and system ASC showed a response to amino acid starvation. Members from various solute carrier families that transport amino acids as their preferred substrate were found to be upregulated after 3-5 hours. Moreover, a few orphan genes such as Slc23a3 and Mfsd11 with unknown substrate profile were also found to be upregulated in response to amino acid depletion.