Solute Carrier Family 22, Member 13 (SLC22A13)

SLC22A13 encodes a member of the organic-cation transporter family. It is located in a gene cluster with another member of the family, organic cation transporter like 4. The encoded protein is a transmembrane protein involved in the transport of small molecules. This protein can function to mediate urate uptake and is a high affinity nicotinate exchanger in the kidneys and the intestine.The ORCTL3 gene contains 10 exons, spans approximately 12 kb, and is located 27 kb centromeric to ORCTL4 in a tandem orientation. Northern blot analysis revealed that the 2.4-kb ORCTL3 mRNA was expressed in all tissues tested, with the highest levels in kidney, small intestine, and colon. A. 2.6-kb transcript with a longer 3-prime untranslated region was detected in kidney.