Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
07:10
High-Throughput Expression and Purification of Human Solute Carriers for Structural and Biochemical Studies
Published on: September 29, 2023
Primary and secondary thyroid hormone transporters
Anita Kinne1, Ralf Schülein, Gerd Krause
1Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Robert-Roessle-Str, 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany. gkrause@fmp-berlin.de.
Thyroid Research
|August 13, 2011
Summary
Thyroid hormone transporters are crucial for brain development and metabolism. This review compares key transporters like MCT8, MCT10, OATPs, and LATs, highlighting differences in their transport mechanisms and focusing on blood-brain barrier transporters.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology and Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology and Transport Mechanisms
- Cellular Metabolism and Development
Background:
- Thyroid hormones (TH) are vital for brain development, growth, and metabolism.
- Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) is a primary TH transporter, but other transporters also play significant roles.
- Understanding TH transport is critical due to its implications in thyroid research and neurological function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and compare primary and secondary thyroid hormone transporters.
- To analyze similarities and differences in their sequences, topology, and functional features.
- To focus on TH transporters present in the blood-brain barrier.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of sequence data for TH transporter families (MCT8, MCT10, OATPs, LATs).
- Review of existing literature on transporter structure, function, and mutation-driven transport sensitivities.
- Examination of conserved residues and potential transport mechanisms.
Main Results:
- TH transporters share a 12-transmembrane spanner topology but differ significantly in sequence, suggesting varied conformations.
- Transport-sensitive residues are conserved within families but not across all TH transporters.
- Similarities in transport-sensitive residue positions were noted in transmembrane helix 8 for MCT8, OATP1C1, and xCT.
Conclusions:
- The molecular mechanisms of TH transport likely involve distinct determinants or non-charged residues for substrate binding.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise transport mechanisms and structural conformations of these diverse transporters.
- Understanding blood-brain barrier TH transport is essential for comprehending TH's role in neurological health.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:31Membrane Transporters
Transporters are essential membrane transport proteins with functions related to cell nutrition, homeostasis, communication, etc. Approximately 7% of all genes in the human genome code for transporters or transporter-related proteins.
Transporters are mainly composed of alpha-helices, built from bundles of ten or more helices traversing the plasma membrane. The solute-binding sites are located midway, where some of the helices are broken or distorted, making space for the binding site through...
Transporters are mainly composed of alpha-helices, built from bundles of ten or more helices traversing the plasma membrane. The solute-binding sites are located midway, where some of the helices are broken or distorted, making space for the binding site through...
01:14Active Transport
Active transport is a critical biological process that allows cells to move solutes against an electrochemical gradient. This process requires direct energy input and is characterized by its selectivity, saturability, and susceptibility to competitive inhibition.
Primary active transporters, like Na+, K+ and -ATPase, directly utilize ATP to move ions across the membrane. These transporters play significant roles in various physiological processes. For instance, Na+, K+ and -ATPase maintain...
Primary active transporters, like Na+, K+ and -ATPase, directly utilize ATP to move ions across the membrane. These transporters play significant roles in various physiological processes. For instance, Na+, K+ and -ATPase maintain...
01:32Secondary Active Transport
One example of how cells use the energy contained in electrochemical gradients is demonstrated by glucose transport into cells. The ion vital to this process is sodium (Na+), which is typically present in higher concentrations extracellularly than in the cytosol. Such a concentration difference is due, in part, to the action of an enzyme "pump" embedded in the cellular membrane that actively expels Na+ from a cell. Importantly, as this pump contributes to the high concentration of...
01:55Secondary Active Transport
One example of how cells use the energy contained in electrochemical gradients is demonstrated by glucose transport into cells. The ion vital to this process is sodium (Na+), which is typically present in higher concentrations extracellularly than in the cytosol. Such a concentration difference is due, in part, to the action of an enzyme “pump” embedded in the cellular membrane that actively expels Na+ from a cell. Importantly, as this pump contributes to the high concentration of...
01:32Secondary Active Transport
One example of how cells use the energy contained in electrochemical gradients is demonstrated by glucose transport into cells. The ion vital to this process is sodium (Na+), which is typically present in higher concentrations extracellularly than in the cytosol. Such a concentration difference is due, in part, to the action of an enzyme "pump" embedded in the cellular membrane that actively expels Na+ from a cell. Importantly, as this pump contributes to the high concentration of...
01:06Carrier-Mediated Transport
Carrier-mediated transport is a pivotal process in drug absorption, particularly for lipid-insoluble drugs, and encompasses facilitated diffusion and active transport. Facilitated diffusion allows drugs to move along their concentration gradient without energy expenditure, while active transport utilizes ATP to drive drug movement against this gradient.
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...