| Gene Symbol | Slc7a8 |
|---|---|
| Entrez Gene | 84551 |
| Alt Symbol | Lat2, Lat4 |
| Species | Rat |
| Gene Type | protein-coding |
| Description | solute carrier family 7 (amino acid transporter light chain, L system), member 8 |
| Other Description | L-type amino acid transporter 2|cationic amino acid transporter y+ system|large neutral amino acids transporter small subunit 2|solute carrier family 7 (cationic amino acid transporter, y+ system), member 8|solute carrier family 7 member 8 |
| Swissprots | Q9WVR6 |
| Accessions | CBF83389 CBF94330 CBF97850 CBG06069 CBV00810 CBV07850 CBV11370 CBV19591 EDM14189 EDM14190 EDM14191 Q9WVR6 AB024400 BAA82517 BC078688 BC089768 BC126077 BC158574 NM_053442 NP_445894 |
| Function | Sodium-independent, high-affinity transport of small and large neutral amino acids such as alanine, serine, threonine, cysteine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine, arginine and tryptophan, when associated with SLC3A2/4F2hc. Acts as an amino acid exchanger. Has higher affinity for L-phenylalanine than LAT1 but lower affinity for glutamine and serine. L-alanine is transported at physiological concentrations. Plays a role in basolateral (re)absorption of neutral amino acids. Involved in the uptake of methylmercury (MeHg) when administered as the L-cysteine or D,L-homocysteine complexes, and hence plays a role in metal ion homeostasis and toxicity. Involved in the cellular activity of small molecular weight nitrosothiols, via the stereoselective transport of L-nitrosocysteine (L-CNSO) across the transmembrane. Plays an essential role in the reabsorption of neutral amino acids from the epithelial cells to the bloodstream in the kidney. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10391916}. |
| Subcellular Location | Cytoplasm {ECO:0000250}. Basolateral cell membrane {ECO:0000269|PubMed:16027961}; Multi-pass membrane protein {ECO:0000269|PubMed:16027961}. Note=Localized to the cytoplasm when expressed alone (By similarity). When coexpressed with SLC3A2/4F2hc, is localized to the plasma membrane. Colocalized with SLC3A2/4F2hc at the basolateral membrane of kidney cortex proximal tubules and small intestine epithelia of the villi (By similarity). {ECO:0000250}. |
| Tissue Specificity | Expression is seen in jejunum mucosa and the epithelial cells of the jejunum, ileum and colon, as well as in kidney, placenta, brain, testis and skeletal muscle. Expressed in retina, inner blood-retinal barrier of retina, retinal vascular endothelial cells. Also expressed in the intestinal epithelial cell line IEC-6 and in the retinal capillary endothelial cell line TR-iBRB2. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10391916, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15980244, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16027961}. |
| Top Pathways | Protein digestion and absorption |