H+ Myo Inositol Symporter (HMIT)

Human SLC2A13 encodes a 629-amino acid protein and shares 90% identity with its rat homolog. The rat sequence has 12 transmembrane domains, 3 N-glycosylation sites, several motifs important for glucose transport activity, and an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal and dileucine internalization signal in the N-terminal region. Northern blot analysis of rat tissues showed expression predominantly in brain, with high expression in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and brainstem. Slc2a13 localized to the astrocytes of the hippocampus and neurons of the cortex in rat brain.SLC2A13 specifically transported myoinositol but not hexoses. Decreasing the pH of the extracellular medium from 7.0 to 5.0 markedly increased transport activity.