Slc7a5 regulation of neural development

Membrane transport proteins are appreciated for their ability to transport molecules across biological membranes and have received a renewed focus for their role in nervous system disorders.One such group of transporters are members of the solute carrier(SLC)family.SLC transporters shuttle various molecules,including neurotransmitters,fatty acids,amino acids,and inorganic ions.As such,they play an integral role in supplying cells with essential resources.An example is that amino acids are transported by SLC family members.Slc7a5 is a SLC family member that transports essential amino acids important for neuronal development,as well as other biological molecules including thyroid hormones T3,T4,and L-Dopa.Slc7a5 forms a heterodimer with Slc3a2 that facilitates the subcellular distribution of Slc7a5.Amino acids including leucine,glutamine,and arginine support cell growth by activating the protein kinase,mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1(mTORC1)(Liu et al.,2020).Consistent with this notion is that Slc7a5 transport of amino acids regulates mTORC1 activity in numerous cell types(Nicklin et al.,2009).A recent manuscript expands upon these findings to demonstrate that Slc7a5 plays a previously unrecognized and critical role in the regulation of mTORC1 activity and neuron development(Sokolov et al.,2020).