SLC38A2
Description
The SLC38A2 (solute carrier family 38 member 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 12.
Sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC38A2 gene.
SLC38A2 acts as a symporter, transporting neutral amino acids and sodium ions across the cell membrane from the extracellular to the intracellular side. This transport process is pH-sensitive, Li(+)-intolerant, and electrogenic, driven by the Na(+) electrochemical gradient. It has a 1:1 stoichiometry for amino acid and sodium ion cotransport. Evidence suggests SLC38A2 plays a role in amino acid transport at the blood-brain barrier, supplying maternal nutrients to the fetus via the placenta, and maintaining a critical glutamine/glutamate balance that supports retrograde signaling by dendritic glutamate release. Furthermore, SLC38A2 is involved in the transport of L-proline in differentiating osteoblasts, contributing to the efficient synthesis of proline-enriched proteins and providing proline essential for osteoblast differentiation and bone development.
SLC38A2 is also known as ATA2, PRO1068, SAT2, SNAT2.
