High affinity carnitine transporters from OCTN family in neural cells.

Neurons are known to accumulate L-carnitine--a compound necessary for transfer of acyl moieties through biological membranes, apart from very low beta-oxidation of fatty acids in adult brain. Present study demonstrates expression of octn2 and octn3 genes coding high affinity carnitine transporters, as well as presence of both proteins in neurons obtained from suckling and adult rats, and also in mouse transformed neural cells. Measurements of carnitine transport show activity of both transporters in neural cells, pointing to their importance in physiological processes other than beta-oxidation.