| Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 2A1 | |
|---|---|
| Gene Symbol | SLCO2A1 |
| Full Name | Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 2A1 |
| Chromosome | 3q21.2 |
| NCBI Gene ID | [6578](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/6578) |
| OMIM | [601419](https://www.omim.org/entry/601419) |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000174640 |
| UniProt ID | [Q14974](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q14974) |
| Associated Diseases | [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease), [Primary Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy](/diseases/primary-hypertrophic-osteoarthropathy), [Inflammatory Disorders](/diseases/inflammatory-disorders) |
SLCO2A1 encodes Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 2A1 (also known as OATP2A1 or PGT), a proton-coupled organic anion transporter that mediates the cellular uptake of prostaglandins and other organic anions. Expressed throughout the body including the brain, SLCO2A1 plays critical roles in prostaglandin homeostasis, inflammation regulation, and has emerging connections to neurodegenerative diseases through its effects on neuroinflammation and prostaglandin metabolism.
SLCO2A1 is a 643-amino acid transmembrane transporter belonging to the SLCO (Solute Carrier Organic Anion) family. The protein contains 12 transmembrane domains that form the transport pore, with extracellular and intracellular loops involved in substrate recognition and binding.
SLCO2A1 operates as a proton-coupled symporter:
SLCO2A1 is the primary transporter for:
High expression in:
By mediating prostaglandin uptake, SLCO2A1 regulates:
SLCO2A1 has emerging connections to AD through neuroinflammation:
Prostaglandin Dysregulation: Altered prostaglandin transport in AD brains may contribute to chronic neuroinflammation. PGE2, when elevated chronically, promotes glial activation and neuronal dysfunction.
Blood-Brain Barrier Function: As expressed in brain endothelial cells, SLCO2A1 may influence prostaglandin flux across the BBB, affecting neuroinflammatory processes.
Genetic Associations: Certain SLCO2A1 variants have been nominally associated with AD risk in genome-wide studies, though replication is needed.
Biallelic SLCO2A1 mutations cause primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO), characterized by:
This highlights SLCO2A1's essential role in prostaglandin metabolism, as PHO results from impaired prostaglandin clearance.
SLCO2A1 variants have been associated with:
SLCO2A1 transports various drugs and compounds:
Understanding SLCO2A1 function is important for drug delivery to the brain and inflammatory tissues.