An SLC6 transporter of the novel B(0,)- system aids in absorption and detection of nutrient amino acids in Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: Nutrient amino acid transporters (NATs) of solute carrier family 6 (SLC6) mediate uptake of essential amino acids in mammals and insects. Phylogenomic analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans (Ce) SLC6 family identifies five genes paralogous to an insect-specific NAT subfamily. Here we cloned and characterized the first representative of the identified nematode-specific transporters, SNF-5. SNF-5 mediates broad spectrum cation-coupled transport of neutral amino acids with submillimolar affinities and stoichiometry of 1 AA:1 Na(+), except for 1 l-Pro:2 Na(+). Unexpectedly, it transports acidic l-Glu(-) and l-Asp(-) (1 AA(-):3 Na(+)), revealing it to be the first member of a new B(0,-) system among characterized SLC6 transporters. This activity correlates with a unique positively charged His(+

SUBMITTER: Metzler R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3713946 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature