Expression, regulation and function of carrier proteins for cationic amino acids

Different carrier proteins exhibiting distinct transport properties participate in cationic amino acid transport. There are sodium-independent systems, such as b(+), y(+), y(+)L and b(0,+), and a sodium-dependent system B-0,B-+, most of which have now been identified at the molecular level. In most non-epithelial cells, members of the cationic amino acid transporter (CAT) family mediating system y(+) activity seem to be the major entry pathway for cationic amino acids. CAT proteins underlie complex regulation at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and activity levels. Recent evidence indicates that individual CAT isoforms are necessary for providing the substrate for nitric oxide synthesis, for example CAT-1 for Ca2+-independent nitric oxide production in endothelial cells and CAT-2B for sustained nitric oxide production in macrophages. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 11:99-107. (C) 2002 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.