Solute Carrier Family 6, Member 15 (SLC6A15)

SLC6A15 shows structural characteristics of an Na(+) and Cl(-)-dependent neurotransmitter transporter, including 12 transmembrane (TM) domains, intracellular N and C termini, and large extracellular loops containing multiple N-glycosylation sites. Human SBAT1 mediated Na(+)-coupled transport of hydrophobic, zwitterioninc alpha-amino and imino acids when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. SBAT1 exhibited a strong preference for branched-chain amino acids and methionine, and it excluded aromatic or charged amino acids, beta-amino acids, glycine, and GABA. SBAT1-mediated transport was temperature dependent and inhibited at acidic pH. Protein kinase C activation reduced the plasma membrane population of SBAT1 protein.