Electrogenic sodium-dependent amino acid transporter with a preference for L-glutamine, L-alanine, L-histidine, L-aspartate and L-arginine. May facilitate glutamine uptake in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The transport mechanism and stoichiometry remain to be elucidated.
Subcellular locations: Membrane, Cytoplasm, Cell cortex, Cell projection, Axon
Expressed in fetal and adult brain, and spinal cord. In the brain, it is localized in the cell body and axon of the majority of neuronal cells and in a subset of glial cells. Found throughout the neuronal retina, with higher expression levels in the inner and outer plexiform layers and the photoreceptor layer. Very weak expression is also present in the kidneys, thymus, and testes.