SLC29A1
Description
The SLC29A1 (solute carrier family 29 member 1 (Augustine blood group)) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 6.
SLC29A1, also known as Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1), encodes a protein involved in nucleoside transport. It is a member of the equilibrative nucleoside transporter family. The protein is a transmembrane glycoprotein that localizes to the plasma and mitochondrial membranes, mediating cellular uptake of nucleosides. It is an equilibrative (as opposed to concentrative) transporter sensitive to inhibition by nitrobenzylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (NBMPR). Nucleoside transporters are essential for nucleotide synthesis in cells lacking de novo nucleoside synthesis pathways and are necessary for the uptake of cytotoxic nucleosides used in cancer and viral chemotherapies. SLC29A1 is located on chromosome 6, spans 14,647 bases, and encodes a protein with 456 amino acid residues and 11 predicted transmembrane domains. Multiple alternatively spliced variants of SLC29A1, encoding the same protein, have been found. These variants constitute the Augustine blood group system, expressed on red blood cell surfaces.
SLC29A1, also known as hENT1, is a uniporter involved in the facilitated transport of nucleosides and nucleobases, contributing to their cellular homeostasis. It functions as a Na(+)-independent transporter. SLC29A1 transports nucleosides such as adenosine, guanosine, inosine, uridine, thymidine, and cytidine. It also transports purine nucleobases (hypoxanthine, adenine, guanine) and pyrimidine nucleobases (thymine, uracil). SLC29A1 mediates basolateral nucleoside uptake into Sertoli cells, regulating nucleoside transport across the blood-testis barrier. It regulates inosine levels in brown adipose tissues (BAT) and extracellular inosine levels, controlling BAT-dependent energy expenditure.
SLC29A1 is also known as AUG, ENT1, hENT1.
