Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
07:10
Author Spotlight: Expression and Purification of Human Solute Carrier Transporters Using Codon-Optimized Genes
Published on: September 29, 2023
4.8K
The SLC6 transporters: perspectives on structure, functions, regulation, and models for transporter dysfunction
Gary Rudnick1, Reinhard Krämer, Randy D Blakely
1Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology
|December 17, 2013
Summary
The SLC6 family of transporters moves amino acids and neurotransmitters into cells. Research highlights their mechanisms, regulation, nutrient uptake, and roles in brain function and disease.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The SLC6 family comprises ~20 related symporters crucial for cellular transport.
- These transporters import amino acids, biogenic amines, nutrients, and osmolytes.
- SLC6 transporters play vital roles in physiological and pathological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research themes on SLC6 transporters.
- To highlight their integrative functions across diverse biological roles.
- To discuss molecular mechanisms, regulation, and disease relevance.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and expert insights.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms through structural and functional studies.
- Examination of transporter regulation, nutrient transport, and neurotransmitter roles.
Main Results:
- Understanding of SLC6 coupled transport mechanisms is advancing.
- SLC6 transporters are regulated at multiple levels, impacting osmoregulation and stress.
- Specific SLC6 transporters are key for nutrient absorption and cellular metabolism.
- Neurotransmitter SLC6 transporters are critical drug targets for neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Gene variants and genetic models reveal SLC6 roles in behavior.
Conclusions:
- SLC6 transporters are essential for nutrient homeostasis and neurotransmission.
- Their diverse functions and regulatory mechanisms offer therapeutic opportunities.
- Continued research is vital for understanding SLC6 transporter roles in health and disease.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:31Membrane Transporters
21.3K
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...
21.3K
01:44The Significance of Membrane Transport
24.3K
The transport of solutes across the cell membrane is essential for metabolic processes, like maintaining cell size and volume, generating the action potential, exchanging nutrients and gases, etc. Membrane transport can be either passive or active. It can be simple diffusion, facilitated, or mediated transport aided by transport proteins such as transporters and channels.
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...
24.3K
01:44The Significance of Membrane Transport
7.4K
7.4K
01:31ABC Transporters: Exporter
5.7K
ATP-binding cassette or ABC transporter is the largest superfamily of integral membrane proteins. The transporters have transmembrane-binding domains (TMDs) and nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). The TMDs are specific to their substrates, whereas the NBDs are similar to engines that complete ATP hydrolysis to complete the substrate transport. They can be full transporters consisting of two TMDs and NBDs, half transporters with one TMD and NBD, while some encoded with a single TMD or NBD are...
5.7K
01:27Glucose Transporters
15.2K
Glucose transporters facilitate the transport of glucose across the cell membrane. In addition to glucose, some glucose transporters can also aid the movement of other hexoses such as fructose, mannose, and galactose.
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
15.2K
01:16Pharmacogenetics of Drug Transporters: P-Glycoprotein and Solute Carrier Transporters
189
The pharmacogenetics of drug transporters is increasingly recognized as a critical factor influencing interindividual variability in drug absorption, distribution, and elimination. These membrane-bound proteins regulate drugs' movement across cellular barriers by actively pumping them out (efflux) or facilitating their uptake (influx). Among the major transporter families, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and solute carrier (SLC) transporters play particularly prominent roles. Genetic polymorphisms...
189