Ascorbic acid cellular transport

Cellular transport of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is primarily mediated by sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters, SVCT1 and SVCT2, encoded by the SLC23A1 and SLC23A2 genes. SVCT1 is mainly expressed in epithelial tissues (kidney, intestine) and is responsible for maintaining whole-body vitamin C levels. SVCT2 is expressed more broadly (including the brain) and is crucial for distributing vitamin C to individual tissues. Both function as sodium-ascorbate symporters with a 2:1 sodium-to-ascorbate stoichiometry, enabling active uptake of ascorbic acid against a concentration gradient. For the oxidized form (dehydroascorbic acid), cellular entry occurs via facilitated diffusion through glucose transporters (GLUT1, GLUT3, GLUT4), important in some tissues. These transporters are essential for antioxidant protection, redox balance, and diverse roles in metabolism and disease, including cancer, neurological disorders, and scurvy[1][2][3][4].

Other names

SVCT1SVCT2SLC23A1SLC23A2SVCT = Sodium-dependent vitamin C transportergenes: SLC23A1, SLC23A2

Active, sodium-coupled co-transport of ascorbic acid (reduced form) via SVCT transporters Facilitated diffusion of dehydroascorbic acid (oxidized form) via GLUTs, followed by intracellular reduction