Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family, Member 1B3 (SLCO1B3)

Based on sequence homology to human organic anion transporter-2 (OATP2, or SLC21A6), Konig et al. (2000) cloned a new member of the SLC21A superfamily, which they termed OATP8 (SLC21A8). The deduced 702-amino acid OATP8 protein shares 80% sequence identity with OATP2, a hepatic basolateral uptake transporter. Northern blot analysis revealed a liver-specific expression pattern similar to that of OATP2. An antibody raised against the C terminus localized OATP8 to the basolateral membrane of human hepatocytes and the recombinant glycoprotein, expressed in MDCKII cells, to the lateral membrane.OATP8 is also an uptake transporter of organic anions including sulfobromophthalein and 17-beta-glucuronosyl estradiol. They also found that OATP8 did not transport several bile salts that are transported by OATP2.