Sodium Coupled Neutral Amino Acid Transporter 3 (SNAT3)

The amino acid glutamine has a central role in nitrogen metabolism. Although the molecular mechanisms responsible for its transport across cell membranes are poorly understood, classical amino acid transport system N appears particularly important. SLC38A3, G17 is associated with a putative lung cancer tumor suppressor gene.The deduced 504-amino acid plasma membrane protein is 97% identical to the mouse protein. It contains 10 to 11 transmembrane helices and an aromatic amino acid permease-2 domain. Northern blot analysis revealed expression of a 3.0-kb transcript that was strongest in liver, skeletal muscle, and pancreas, followed by heart, brain, and kidney. Expression was detectable in most lung cancer cell lines tested, and no mutations were found in any lung cancer cell lines tested.