Nucleoside transporters (NTs)

Nucleoside transporters are specialized membrane proteins that facilitate the movement of nucleosides across cellular membranes. They are crucial for maintaining intra- and extracellular nucleoside concentrations, which are essential for nucleic acid synthesis and signaling processes. There are two main families: concentrative nucleoside transporters (CNTs), which transport nucleosides against a concentration gradient using sodium or proton coupling, and equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs), which facilitate bidirectional transport without energy coupling. These transporters play significant roles in physiological processes and are targets for therapeutic interventions, particularly in cancer and viral infections.

Other names

Nucleoside transport proteinsNucleoside transporters (NTs)Concentrative Nucleoside Transporters (CNTs)Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporters (ENTs)

CNTs: Unidirectional uptake of nucleosides coupled with sodium (or proton) influx. ENTs: Bidirectional transport of nucleosides without energy coupling.