Sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (SLC38A2) (SNAT2)

Sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (SLC38A2), commonly known as SNAT2, is a member of the solute carrier family 38 that mediates the concentrative uptake of small neutral amino acids, with a high preference for L-alanine and L-glutamine. It functions as an electrogenic symporter, utilizing the sodium gradient across the plasma membrane to drive amino acids into the cell, where they serve as biosynthetic precursors and signaling molecules. In the context of oncology, SLC38A2 is frequently upregulated in nutrient-stressed tumor environments, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and ARID1A-mutant ovarian cancer, to facilitate the scavenging of environmental alanine from the stroma. This metabolic dependency, often referred to as the "alanine niche," supports mitochondrial metabolism and fuels the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle through anaplerosis. Pharmacological inhibition of SLC38A2 leads to a metabolic crisis characterized by depleted intracellular alanine and glutamine levels, resulting in the suppression of mTORC1 signaling and impaired tumor proliferation. Consequently, SLC38A2 is considered a promising therapeutic target for restricting nutrient access in aggressive and metabolically reprogrammed cancers.

Other names

SNAT2System A transporter 2ATA2SAT2Solute carrier family 38 member 2Amino acid transporter A2Alanine transporter