SLC51A
Description
The SLC51A (solute carrier family 51 member A) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 3.
The SLC51A gene encodes for a protein known as Organic solute transporter alpha (OST-alpha). This protein, in conjunction with OST-beta, facilitates the transport of various molecules across cell membranes, including estrone sulfate, taurocholate, digoxin, and prostaglandin E2. The heterodimer formed by OST-alpha and OST-beta is essential for sodium-independent bile acid uptake and intestinal bile acid transport. SLC51A expression is notably high in the testis, colon, liver, small intestine, kidney, ovary, and adrenal gland.
The SLC51A protein, also known as OST-alpha, is a crucial component of the Ost-alpha/Ost-beta complex, a heterodimer that acts as the intestinal basolateral transporter responsible for bile acid export from enterocytes into portal blood. This complex efficiently transports major bile acid species like taurocholate, favoring taurine conjugates over glycine conjugates. Additionally, SLC51A plays a role in the enterohepatic circulation of sterols by transporting steroids such as estrone 3-sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone 3-sulfate. It can also transport eicosanoids like prostaglandin E2.
SLC51A is also known as OSTA, OSTalpha, PFIC6, SLC51A1.
