SLC7A1 (solute carrier family 7 member 1)
SLC7A1, also known as solute carrier family 7 member 1, encodes the high-affinity cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT-1), a key member of the SLC7 gene family that facilitates the transmembrane transport of cationic amino acids such as arginine, lysine, and ornithine. Expressed broadly across various tissues but particularly active in vascular endothelial cells, the liver, and the small intestine, this membrane-bound protein utilizes active transport mechanisms to maintain intracellular amino acid homeostasis, thereby supplying essential substrates for protein synthesis. A critical aspect of SLC7A1 function is its role in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, as it imports arginine, the primary substrate for nitric oxide synthase (NOS), thus directly influencing NO-dependent physiological processes including vascular tone regulation and immune responses. Dysregulation of SLC7A1 expression has significant pathological implications; reduced expression can limit amino acid supply and impair NO-mediated vascular function, while overexpression may lead to excessive arginine uptake and NO production, potentially causing pathological vasodilation or oxidative stress. Consequently, alterations in SLC7A1 activity are linked to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, as well as metabolic disorders. Furthermore, although SLC7A1 shares general transport functions with other SLC7 family members like SLC7A2 through SLC7A5, it exhibits distinct substrate selectivity and tissue distribution. Emerging evidence also highlights its involvement in tumor microenvironment metabolism, where abnormal SLC7A1 expression contributes to amino acid metabolic reprogramming that may support cancer cell proliferation and growth.
Gene Ontology
Subcellular localization of SLC7A1 (and its protein):
- plasma membrane
- cytoplasm
- extracellular
- golgi
- vesicle
- cytoskeleton
- endoplasmic reticulum
- nucleus
- endosome
- lysosome
- mitochondrion
Gene Ontology (GO) terms for SLC7A1:
| Interacting Gene | Interaction | Source/Score |
| Name |
|---|
| 5206 MicroRNAs in cancer [PATH:hsa05206] |
| Name |
|---|
| Amino acid and oligopeptide SLC transporters |
| Amino acid transport across the plasma membrane |
| SLC-mediated transmembrane transport |
| Transmembrane transport of small molecules |
| Transport of inorganic cations/anions and amino acids/oligopeptides |
| Disease | Score | NofPmids | NofSnps | Source |
| Prostatic Neoplasms | 0.12 | 1 | 0 | CTD_human |
| Hypertensive disease | 0.003538676 | 3 | 0 | BeFree_LHGDN |
| Prostate carcinoma | 0.000814326 | 3 | 0 | BeFree |
| Malignant neoplasm of prostate | 0.000814326 | 3 | 0 | BeFree |
| Malignant neoplasm of breast | 0.000814326 | 3 | 0 | BeFree |
| Breast Carcinoma | 0.000814326 | 3 | 0 | BeFree |
| Endothelial dysfunction | 0.000542884 | 2 | 0 | BeFree |
| Congestive heart failure | 0.000542884 | 2 | 0 | BeFree |
| Ovarian Carcinoma | 0.000271442 | 1 | 0 | BeFree |
| Malignant tumor of colon | 0.000271442 | 1 | 0 | BeFree |
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