4F2 cell-surface antigen heavy chain

SLC3A2 is a member of the solute carrier family and encodes a cell surface, transmembrane protein with an alpha-amylase domain. The protein exists as the heavy chain of a heterodimer, covalently bound through di-sulfide bonds to one of several possible light chains. It associates with integrins and mediates integrin-dependent signaling related to normal cell growth and tumorigenesis. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, encoding different isoforms, have been characterized.^[6]

LAT1 is a heterodimeric membrane transport protein that preferentially transports neutral branched (valine, leucine, isoleucine) and aromatic (tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine) amino acids.^[9] LAT is highly expressed in brain capillaries (which form the blood brain barrier) relative to other tissues.^[9]

A functional LAT1 transporter is composed of two proteins encoded by two distinct genes:

• 4F2hc/CD98 heavy subunit protein encoded by the SLC3A2 gene (this gene)^[10]
• CD98 light subunit protein encoded by the SLC7A5 gene^[11]

SLC3A2 has been shown to interact with SLC7A7.^[12]

Additionally, SLC3A2 is a constituent member of the system xc- cystine/glutamate antiporter, complexing with SLC7A11.

• Heterodimeric amino acid transporter

• Large+Neutral+Amino+Acid-Transporter+1 at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• Amino+Acid+Transport+System+L at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.