SLC22A8

Solute carrier family 22 member 8 is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC22A8 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
This protein is also called organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3). It is involved in the transport and excretion of organic ions some of which are drugs (e.g., penicillin G (benzylpenicillin), is_associated_with::methotrexate (MTX), is_associated_with::indomethacin (an is_associated_with::NSAID), is_associated_with::ciprofloxacin (a is_associated_with::carboxyfluoroquinolone), and some of which are pure toxicants. SLC22A8 (OAT3) is indirectly dependent on the inward sodium gradient, which is a driving force for reentry of dicarboxylates into the cytosol. Dicarboxylates, such as is_associated_with::alpha-ketoglutarate generated within the cell, or recycled from the extracellular space, are used as exchange substrates to fuel the influx of organic anions against their concentration gradient.  The encoded protein is an integral membrane protein and appears to be localized to the basolateral membrane  of renal proximal tubule cells.