OATP1B3/SLCO1B3 Proteins and Enzymes

The OATPs (organic anion transporter polypeptides) are a family of transport proteins that have been found to mediate the uptake of organic ions into hepatocyte cells. These proteins fall into the solute carrier family 21A (SLC21A), and are expressed in liver, kidney, and brain. These polypeptides are involved in the excretion of potentially toxic compounds and therefore play a role in the overall detoxification system of the body. Unlike other members of the OATP family, OATP2 and 8 have been detected exclusively in the liver, and there is an 80% amino acid sequence homology between these polypeptides. Other names for OATP2 include SLC21A6, OATP-C, and LST-1.