Other system L and non-system A amino acid transporters

Other system L and non-system A amino acid transporters refers to a functional grouping of solute carrier (SLC) proteins that facilitate the transport of neutral and basic amino acids across cellular membranes, excluding the primary System A transporters (SNAT1, SNAT2, and SNAT4). This category typically encompasses System L isoforms other than the well-characterized LAT1, such as LAT2 (SLC7A8), LAT3 (SLC43A1), and LAT4 (SLC43A2), as well as other transporters like System N (SLC38A3/5) and System B0,+ (SLC6A14). These transporters are essential for maintaining cellular nutrient homeostasis and are frequently upregulated in various cancers to support the high metabolic demands of tumor growth. In pharmacological research, this group is often defined by its sensitivity to the inhibitor 2-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH) and its lack of inhibition by System A-selective agents like MeAIB. While they serve as critical pathways for the delivery of amino acid-based drugs and imaging tracers, their broad expression across essential tissues like the blood-brain barrier and kidneys presents challenges for achieving high therapeutic selectivity.

Other names

Non-system A amino acid transportersOther system L transportersBCH-sensitive amino acid transportersSystem L and non-system A transporters

Amino acid transporter inhibitor, Amino acid transporter substrate