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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Measuring Cation Transport by Na,K- and H,K-ATPase in Xenopus Oocytes by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry: An Alternative to Radioisotope Assays

Measuring Cation Transport by Na,K- and H,K-ATPase in Xenopus Oocytes by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry: An Alternative to Radioisotope Assays

Published on: February 19, 2013

Organic anion uptake by hepatocytes.

Allan W Wolkoff¹

¹The Herman Lopata Chair in Liver Disease Research, Professor of Medicine and Anatomy and Structural Biology, Associate Chair of Medicine for Research, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Director, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY.

Comprehensive Physiology

|November 28, 2014

Summary

Liver transports organic anions via specific proteins like organic anion transport proteins (oatps) and Na+/taurocholate transporting protein (ntcp). Their movement within cells impacts liver function and accessibility to circulating ligands.

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In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion

In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion

Published on: November 10, 2011

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A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target

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In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion

In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion

Published on: November 10, 2011

Area of Science:

Hepatology
Molecular Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Liver uptake of organic anions is crucial for detoxification and metabolism.
Carrier-mediated transport mechanisms were suspected but specific transporters remained elusive.
Expression cloning identified key protein families involved in hepatic anion transport.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the roles of identified transporters in hepatic organic anion uptake.
To investigate the characteristics and physiological significance of Na+/taurocholate transporting protein (ntcp).
To understand the intracellular trafficking of organic anion transporters.

Main Methods:

Kinetic analyses to characterize hepatic uptake.
Expression cloning to identify transporter proteins.
In vitro expression of ntcp to study its transport activity.
Investigation of transporter trafficking using microscopy and molecular biology techniques.

Main Results:

Identification of organic anion transport proteins (oatps) and Na+/taurocholate transporting protein (ntcp).
Oatps mediate Na(+)-independent uptake, while ntcp mediates Na(+)-dependent uptake of bile acids and other organic anions.
Ntcp's in vitro function mimics in vivo Na(+)-dependent bile acid transport, though its precise physiological role requires further study.
Both ntcp and oatps undergo intracellular trafficking via microtubules, suggesting dynamic regulation of their cell surface expression.

Conclusions:

Oatps and ntcp are key proteins mediating hepatic uptake of diverse organic anions.
Ntcp plays a role in bile acid transport, but its full physiological significance is yet to be determined.
Intracellular trafficking of these transporters offers a potential mechanism for regulating their accessibility to circulating ligands.