Plasma membrane monoamine transporter

The plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT) is a low-affinity monoamine transporter protein.

This protein is an integral membrane protein that transports the monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine) from synaptic spaces into presynaptic neurons or neighboring glial cells. It is abundantly expressed in the human brain and skeletal muscle. It is relatively insensitive to the high affinity inhibitors (such as SSRIs) of the SLC6A monoamine transporters (SERT, DAT, NET).

It has 530 amino acid residues with 10–12 transmembrane segments, and is not homologous to other known monoamine transporters. It was initially identified by a search of the draft human genome database by its sequence homology to ENTs (equilibrative nucleoside transporters). In spite of this similarity, it apparently does not significantly transport nucleosides and nucleoside analogs.

Inhibitors

• quinidine
• quinine
• verapamil
• tryptamine