Sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 4 (SLC38A4)

Sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 4 (SLC38A4) is a membrane transporter protein that mediates electrogenic symport of neutral amino acids and sodium ions across the cell membrane, primarily in the liver, placenta, and other tissues including kidney, muscle, and pancreas[1][3][5][7][10]. SLC38A4 has broad substrate specificity, favoring small neutral amino acids such as alanine, glycine, serine, asparagine, threonine, and glutamine, and also can transport cationic amino acids (e.g., arginine, lysine) by a Na(+)-independent mechanism[1][3][7][10]. It belongs to the solute carrier family (SLC), specifically family 38, and functions as both a system A and system N amino acid transporter, essential for maintaining amino acid homeostasis during cell growth, development, and metabolism[1][3][10]. SLC38A4 mutations have been linked to Mahvash Disease and abnormal fetal circulation; research suggests its key role in placental amino acid supply and metabolic adaptation during pregnancy[3][7].

Other names

ATA3NAT3PAATSNAT4Amino acid transporter A3Na(+)-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 4Solute carrier family 38 member 4System A amino acid transporter 3System N amino acid transporter 3

Not applicable; no approved drugs or investigational agents specifically targeting SLC38A4 are documented in search results.