Identification and Expression Analysis of Nutritional Transporters

(Young Investigator Award of JSNFS (2012))

Abstract

Organic and inorganic nutrients are supplied to cells via transporters situated on the plasma membrane. In the present study, we identified the amino acid transporters L-type amino acid transporter (LAT)1, LAT2, basic amino acid transporter^b＋,0 (BAT) 1, system y^＋L amino acid transporter (y^＋LAT)1 and 2, and Na^＋-dependent phosphate transporter (NaPi) IIc. To clarify the roles of these transporters, we analyzed their function and nutritional regulation using Xenopus oocytes, cultured cells or rodents. This manuscript summarizes our study, incuding identification of the amino acid transporters using functional expression cloning, and phosphate homeostasis using gene targeting in mice.