Skip to main content
Log in

The multispecific organic anion transporter (OAT) family

  • Invited Review
  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Organic anion transporters play important roles in the elimination of a variety of endogenous substances, xenobiotics and their metabolites from the body. During the last decade, molecular cloning has identified several families of multispecific organic anion transporters mediating the renal and hepatic elimination of organic anions and, most recently, the OAT (organic anion transporter) family, the founding member of which (OAT1) is the basolateral p-aminohippurate (PAH) transporter in the renal proximal tubule. So far, four isoforms have been identified. OATs are membrane proteins with 12 putative membrane-spanning domains and function as sodium-independent exchangers or facilitators. OATs show weak structural similarity to organic cation transporters (OCTs) and OCTN/carnitine transporters. OATs are multispecific organic anion transporters, the substrates of which include both endogenous (e.g. cyclic nucleotides, prostaglandins, urate, dicarboxylates) and exogenous anions (various anionic drugs and environmental substances). All members of the OAT family are expressed in the kidney, while some are also expressed in the liver, brain and placenta. The OAT family represents the renal secretory pathway for organic anions and is also involved in the distribution of organic anions in the body.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Electronic Publication

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sekine, T., Cha, S. & Endou, H. The multispecific organic anion transporter (OAT) family. Eur J Physiol 440, 337–350 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004240000297

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004240000297

Navigation