Identification of multispecific organic anion transporter 2 expressed predominantly in the liver

Abstract In the present study, we demonstrate that NLT (novel liver-specific transport protein) is a multispecific organic anion transporter of the liver. The amino acid sequence of NLT shows 42% identity to that of the renal multispecific organic anion transporter, OAT1. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, NLT mediated uptake of organic anions, such as salicylate, acetylsalicylate, PGE 2 , dicarboxylates and p -aminohippurate. [ 14 C]Salicylate uptake via NLT was saturable ( K m =88.8±23.4 μM) and sodium-independent. Expression of the mRNA of NLT was detected in the liver and kidney (liver≫kidney). We propose that NLT be renamed OAT2.