Solute Carrier Family 17, Member 4 (SLC17A4)

The central molecule in the control of phosphate excretion from the kidney is the sodium/phosphate cotransporter NPT1 (SLC17A1), which is located in the renal proximal tubule. NPT1 uses the transmembrane electrochemical potential gradient of sodium to transport phosphate across the cell membrane. A similar sodium/phosphate cotransporter in the intestinal mucosa plays an important role in the absorption of phosphate from the intestine. The cDNA encodes a deduced 497-amino acid protein, which has been named SLC17A4. The amino acid sequence of SLC17A4 is 54%, 48%, and 43.5% identical to the amino acid sequences of NPT3 (SLC17A2), NPT1, and NPT4 (SLC17A3), respectively. RT-PCR detected SLC17A4 expression in human adult small intestine, colon, liver, and pancreas.