Proton Coupled Amino Acid Transporter 1 (PAT1)

SLC36A1 encodes a member of the eukaryote-specific amino acid/auxin permease (AAAP) 1 transporter family. The encoded protein functions as a proton-dependent, small amino acid transporter. This gene is clustered with related family members on chromosome 5q33.1. Rat Lyaat1 encodes a 455-amino acid protein that is remotely related to a family of H(+)-coupled plasma membrane and synaptic vesicle amino acid transporters. Lyaat1 was expressed in most rat tissues, with highest levels in the brain, where it was present in neurons. It was abundantly expressed in hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and the thalamic and pontine nuclei. Confocal microscopy on brain sections revealed that this transporter colocalized with cathepsin D, an established lysosomal marker.