Solute carrier family 6 member 14 (SLC6A14)

Solute carrier family 6 member 14 (SLC6A14), also known as ATB(0,+), is a highly concentrative, sodium- and chloride-dependent transporter that mediates the uptake of 18 of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids, excluding only the acidic ones (1, 12). It is characterized by its broad substrate specificity and its ability to transport both neutral and basic amino acids against steep concentration gradients (2, 4). While its expression is relatively low in most normal tissues, SLC6A14 is significantly upregulated in various malignancies, including colorectal, pancreatic, and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers (10, 17). In these tumors, the transporter serves as a critical nutrient source to meet the increased metabolic demands of rapidly proliferating cells, effectively fueling the mTOR signaling pathway and promoting cell survival (11, 16). Beyond oncology, SLC6A14 has been identified as a key genetic modifier in cystic fibrosis, where it influences disease severity by modulating arginine availability and nitric oxide production in the lungs and intestines (8, 15). Pharmacological targeting of SLC6A14, particularly with inhibitors like alpha-methyl-DL-tryptophan, aims to induce amino acid starvation and subsequent apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing normal tissues (3, 7).

Other names

Amino acid transporter ATB0+Sodium- and chloride-dependent neutral and basic amino acid transporter B(0+)Amino acid transporter B0+BMIQ11Solute carrier family 6 (neurotransmitter transporter) member 14

Competitive inhibition of amino acid transport leading to intracellular nutrient starvation, suppression of the mTOR signaling pathway, and subsequent induction of autophagy and apoptosis in cancer cells. In cystic fibrosis, it acts as a modifier by influencing arginine availability for nitric oxide production.