Organic Cation/Ergothioneine Transporter (OCTN1) Antibody – Mouse Monoclonal

Polyspecific organic cation transporters in the liver, kidney, intestine, and other organs are critical for elimination of many endogenous small organic cations as well as a wide array of drugs and environmental toxins. The encoded protein is an organic cation transporter and plasma integral membrane protein containing eleven putative transmembrane domains as well as a nucleotide-binding site motif. Transport by this protein is at least partially ATP-dependent. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

SLC22A4: Sodium-ion dependent, low affinity carnitine transporter. Probably transports one sodium ion with one molecule of carnitine. Also transports organic cations such as tetraethylammonium (TEA) without the involvement of sodium. Relative uptake activity ratio of carnitine to TEA is 1.78. A key substrate of this transporter seems to be ergothioneine (ET). Genetic variations in SLC22A4 are a cause of susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is a systemic inflammatory disease with autoimmune features and a complex genetic component. It primarily affects the joints and is characterized by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. Belongs to the major facilitator (TC 2.A.1) superfamily. Organic cation transporter (TC 2.A.1.19) family.

Protein type: Mitochondrial; Transporter; Transporter, SLC family; Membrane protein, multi-pass; Membrane protein, integral

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 5q31.1

Cellular Component: mitochondrion; integral to plasma membrane; apical plasma membrane; plasma membrane

Molecular Function: protein binding; cation:cation antiporter activity; symporter activity; nucleotide binding; carnitine transporter activity; secondary active organic cation transmembrane transporter activity; quaternary ammonium group transmembrane transporter activity; ATP binding; PDZ domain binding

Biological Process: organic cation transport; triacylglycerol metabolic process; quaternary ammonium group transport; sodium ion transport; carnitine metabolic process; body fluid secretion; transmembrane transport; carnitine transport

Disease: Rheumatoid Arthritis