Amino acid transporters within the solute carrier superfamily: Underappreciated proteins and novel opportunities for cancer therapy

• DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101952
• Publication Date: 2024-05-03T15:39:39Z
• Authors: Kiavash Hushmandi; Behzad Einollahi; Seyed Hassan Saadat; E. Hui Clarissa Lee; Marzieh Ramezani ...; Elena Okina; Yun Suk Huh; Noushin Nabavi; Shokooh Salimimog...; Alan Prem Kumar
• Keywords: Solute carrier family; Efflux

Solute carrier (SLC), a diverse family of membrane proteins, are instrumental in orchestrating the intake and efflux nutrients including amino acids, vitamins, ions, nutrients, etc, across cell membranes. This dynamic process is critical for sustaining metabolic demands cancer cells, promoting their survival, proliferation, adaptation to tumor microenvironment. Amino acids fundamental building blocks playing essential roles not only protein synthesis but also nutrient sensing, signaling pathways that can promote tumorigenesis. As key transporters SLCs have emerged as crucial players maintaining cellular acid homeostasis, dysregulation implicated various types. Thus, understanding intricate connections between SLCs, pivotal unraveling novel therapeutic targets strategies. uptake by positively affects progression. However, some studies revealed suppressor function SLCs. Although body evaluated SLC7A11 SLC1A5, SLC proteins studied sufficiently cancer. In this review, we delve into significant impact carriers on growth progression explore current state knowledge field, shedding light molecular mechanisms underlie these relationships highlighting potential avenues future research clinical interventions. comprehensive review provides insights rapidly evolving area biology focusing one most important materials cells need, within superfamily.