Solute carrier family 22, member 4, also known as SLC22A4, is a human gene; the encoded protein is known as the ergothioneine transporter.[5][6]
Function
The encoded protein is an integral protein of the plasma membrane containing 12 transmembrane segments. The first functional designation of this protein was OCTN1 ("organic cation transporter, novel, type 1"), but efficiency of transport for organic cations (e.g., tetraethylammonium) is very low. The transport efficiency for carnitine is also negligible. Instead, the protein is responsible for the cotransport of sodium ions and ergothioneine, which is an antioxidant, into cells.[7] Thus, a more appropriate functional designation is ETT ("ergothioneine transporter").[5]
Xuan W, Lamhonwah AM, Librach C, Jarvi K, Tein I (Jun 2003). "Characterization of organic cation/carnitine transporter family in human sperm". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 306 (1): 121–8. doi:10.1016/S0006-291X(03)00930-6. PMID12788076.
Yamada R, Tokuhiro S, Chang X, Yamamoto K (Sep 2004). "SLC22A4 and RUNX1: identification of RA susceptible genes". Journal of Molecular Medicine. 82 (9): 558–64. doi:10.1007/s00109-004-0547-y. PMID15184985. S2CID9156168.
Tamai I, Yabuuchi H, Nezu J, Sai Y, Oku A, Shimane M, Tsuji A (Dec 1997). "Cloning and characterization of a novel human pH-dependent organic cation transporter, OCTN1". FEBS Letters. 419 (1): 107–11. doi:10.1016/S0014-5793(97)01441-5. PMID9426230. S2CID35546307.
Meyer-Wentrup F, Karbach U, Gorboulev V, Arndt P, Koepsell H (Jul 1998). "Membrane localization of the electrogenic cation transporter rOCT1 in rat liver". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 248 (3): 673–8. doi:10.1006/bbrc.1998.9034. PMID9703985.
Urakami Y, Okuda M, Masuda S, Saito H, Inui KI (Nov 1998). "Functional characteristics and membrane localization of rat multispecific organic cation transporters, OCT1 and OCT2, mediating tubular secretion of cationic drugs". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 287 (2): 800–5. PMID9808712.
Yabuuchi H, Tamai I, Nezu J, Sakamoto K, Oku A, Shimane M, Sai Y, Tsuji A (May 1999). "Novel membrane transporter OCTN1 mediates multispecific, bidirectional, and pH-dependent transport of organic cations". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 289 (2): 768–73. PMID10215651.
Alcorn J, Lu X, Moscow JA, McNamara PJ (Nov 2002). "Transporter gene expression in lactating and nonlactating human mammary epithelial cells using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 303 (2): 487–96. doi:10.1124/jpet.102.038315. PMID12388627. S2CID16195525.
Eraly SA, Hamilton BA, Nigam SK (Jan 2003). "Organic anion and cation transporters occur in pairs of similar and similarly expressed genes". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 300 (2): 333–42. doi:10.1016/S0006-291X(02)02853-X. PMID12504088.
Tokuhiro S, Yamada R, Chang X, Suzuki A, Kochi Y, Sawada T, Suzuki M, Nagasaki M, Ohtsuki M, Ono M, Furukawa H, Nagashima M, Yoshino S, Mabuchi A, Sekine A, Saito S, Takahashi A, Tsunoda T, Nakamura Y, Yamamoto K (Dec 2003). "An intronic SNP in a RUNX1 binding site of SLC22A4, encoding an organic cation transporter, is associated with rheumatoid arthritis". Nature Genetics. 35 (4): 341–8. doi:10.1038/ng1267. PMID14608356. S2CID21564858.
Kawasaki Y, Kato Y, Sai Y, Tsuji A (Dec 2004). "Functional characterization of human organic cation transporter OCTN1 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the Japanese population". Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 93 (12): 2920–6. doi:10.1002/jps.20190. PMID15459889.
