Solute Carrier Family 13, Member 5 (SLC13A5)

The SLC13A5 cDNA encodes a deduced 568-amino acid protein that shares 77% sequence identity with rat SLC13A5 and 54% and 47% sequence identity with human SLC13A2 and SLC13A3, respectively. Northern blot analysis detected expression of an approximately 3.2-kb transcript at highest levels in liver, at several-fold lower levels in testis and brain, and at weak levels in kidney and heart.

SLC13A5 accepts citrate as the preferred substrate but that it can mediate the uptake of succinate and pyruvate at much lower affinity. SLC13A5 transports citrate in a sodium-dependent manner and the transport process is electrogenic. It is the trivalent form of citrate rather than the divalent form that is recognized as a substrate by SLC13A5.