Solute carrier family 38 member 8 (SLC38A8)

Solute carrier family 38 member 8 (SLC38A8), also known as SNAT8, is a sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter belonging to the SLC38 family[5][1][3]. It is a transmembrane protein with eleven transmembrane domains, transporting amino acids—including L-glutamine, L-alanine, L-histidine, L-aspartate, and L-arginine—into neurons, with sodium dependence[1][5][3]. SLC38A8 is classified as a system A transporter and is crucial for maintaining neuronal amino acid pools and regulating the glutamine/glutamate (GABA) cycle in the brain, suggesting a foundational role in neurotransmission and brain metabolism[1][3]. Mutations in SLC38A8 cause foveal hypoplasia 2, pathologic nystagmus, and related visual system development disorders[5]. While functionally characterized in neuronal context and associated with developmental diseases, there are currently no known drugs that specifically target SLC38A8 for therapeutic purposes[5][1][3].

Other names

SNAT8Amino acid transporter SLC38A8Putative sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 8FHASDFVH2