Organic Cation Transporter 2 (OCT2)

Polyspecific organic cation transporters in the liver, kidney, intestine, and other organs are critical for elimination of many endogenous small organic cations as well as a wide array of drugs and environmental toxins. This gene is one of three similar cation transporter genes located in a cluster on chromosome 6. SLC22A2 contains twelve putative transmembrane domains and is a plasma integral membrane protein. It is found primarily in the kidney, where it may mediate the first step in cation reabsorption.Mainly expressed in kidney. Localized at the luminal membrane and basolateral membrane of kidney distal tubule and proximal tubules. To a lower extent, expressed in neurons of the cerebral cortex and in various subcortical nuclei (at protein levels). Also detected in secretory phase endometrium; in scattered cells in the stroma.