Solute carrier family 6 member 18 (SLC6A18)

Solute carrier family 6 member 18 (SLC6A18) is a member of the SLC6 family of sodium- and chloride-dependent transporters that mediates uptake of neutral amino acids across cell membranes[1][3][4]. SLC6A18 is predominantly expressed in the brush-border membrane of the proximal tubule in the kidney, where it works in conjunction with the ancillary protein collectrin for membrane localization and transport activity[2][5]. In mice, loss of function leads to excessive loss of glycine and other small neutral amino acids in urine (iminoglycinuria), although human variants are generally inactive and no drug interactions are currently known[2][3][5]. Mutations in human SLC6A18 are associated with disorders of amino acid reabsorption (such as iminoglycinuria and hyperglycinuria), but there is no established link to major human diseases beyond these rare inherited renal aminoacidurias[3]. SLC6A18 is not currently a therapeutic drug target, and there are no selective modulators or biomarkers used for therapeutic monitoring. This is a neutral amino acid transporter mainly present in the kidney; its dysfunction leads to a mild but rare aminoaciduria. It does not currently have an established role as a drug target but its molecular identity and function in amino acid transport are clearly defined.

Other names

Inactive sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter B(0)AT3B0AT3XTRP2FLJ31236Sodium- and chloride-dependent transporter XTRP2System B(0) neutral amino acid transporter AT3Sodium channel-like proteinSLC6A18

None established for drugs (no known selective pharmaceutical modulators)