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Monocarboxylate Transporter (SLC16A)

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Synonyms

Aromatic amino acid transporter (MCT10); Lactate transports (MCT1–4); MCTs; Solute carrier 16A family transporters; Thyroid hormone transporter (MCT8)

Historical Background

Until 1974, transport of free acids across plasma membranes of mammalian cells and tissues was thought to occur via nonionic diffusion. Two independent laboratories first reported that facilitated and carrier-mediated transport of lactate and pyruvate into human erythrocytes was strongly inhibited by α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (CHC) (Halestrap and Denton 1974; Poole and Halestrap 1993) and organomercurials, which are potent and nonspecific inhibitors of a monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) (Deuticke 1982). However, subsequent extensive characterization of MCT in various tissues such as erythrocytes, cardiac myocytes, and hepatocytes led to the conclusion that a family of MCTs might exist, which is currently known as the solute carrier 16A (SLC16A) family with 14 known isoforms to date (Poole and Halestrap 1993...

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References

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Correspondence to Marilyn E. Morris .

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Morris, M.E., Dave, R.A., Follman, K.E. (2018). Monocarboxylate Transporter (SLC16A). In: Choi, S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67199-4_101724

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