SLC22A12

SLC22A12, solute carrier family 22 member 12, alias urate transporter protein 1 (URAT1), novel kidney transporter protein (NKT). It is a transmembrane protein expressed mainly on the apical brush border membrane of renal proximal tubular epithelial cells and is responsible for the process of urate reabsorption.The mechanism of action of SLC22A12 is to transport urate from the lumen of the proximal tubule to the tubular epithelial cells by utilizing the difference in the concentration gradient and chemical gradient between the two sides of the lumen as the first step in the reabsorption of urate.

The significance of SLC22A12 in biological terms It is mainly characterized by its role in the regulation of urate homeostasis. It is involved in the regulation of blood uric acid levels and affects uric acid excretion and reabsorption.Loss-of-function mutations in SLC22A12 result in dysfunctional urate reabsorption, which may cause type 1 renal hypouricemia. In addition, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SLC22A12 have been associated with the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased waist circumference. Thus, SLC22A12 is a potential target for the study and treatment of diseases associated with urate metabolism, such as gout and hyperuricemia.