Na+-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (amino acid transporter A2, system A transporter 1, system A amino acid transporter 2, system N amino acid transporter 2, solute carrier family 38 member 2, protein 40-9-1, SLC38A2, ATA2, KIAA1382, SAT2, SNAT2)
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Function
- Na+-dependent amino acid transporter
- mediates the saturable, pH-sensitive & electrogenic cotransport of neutral amino acids & Na+ ions with a stoichiometry of 1:1
- may function in the transport of amino acids at the blood- brain barrier & in the supply of maternal nutrients to the fetus through the placenta
- inhibited by N-methyl-D-glucamine & probably choline
- polyubiquitination by NEDD4L regulates the degradation & the activity of SLC38A2 (putative)
Structure
- belongs to the amino acid/polyamine transporter 2 family
Compartment
- cell membrane
- insulin promotes recruitment to the plasma membrane from a pool localized in the trans-Golgi network or endosomes
- nriched in the somatodendritic compartment of neurons,
- detected at the axonal shaft but excluded from nerve terminal
Alternative splicing
named isoforms=2
Expression
- ubiquitously expressed
- widely expressed in the central nervous system with higher concentrations in caudal regions
- expressed by glutamatergic & GABAergic neurons together with astrocytes & other non-neuronal cells in cerebral cortex (at protein level)
- up-regulated upon hypertonic conditions & amino acid deprivation
Notes
- depletion of SCL38A2 by siRNA prevents the recovery of cells from hypertonic stress