Organic zwitterions/cation transporters (OCTN) function as organic cation uniporters, organic cation/proton exchangers or sodium/L-carnitine co-transporters.

Mutations in the SLC22A5 gene lead to primary carnitine deficiency [1].

* Key recommended reading is highlighted with an asterisk

* Pochini L, Scalise M, Galluccio M, Indiveri C. (2013) OCTN cation transporters in health and disease: role as drug targets and assay development. J Biomol Screen, 18 (8): 851-67. [PMID:23771822]

* Tamai I. (2013) Pharmacological and pathophysiological roles of carnitine/organic cation transporters (OCTNs: SLC22A4, SLC22A5 and Slc22a21). Biopharm Drug Dispos, 34 (1): 29-44. [PMID:22952014]

* Yin J, Wang J. (2016) Renal drug transporters and their significance in drug-drug interactions. Acta Pharm Sin B, 6 (5): 363-373. [PMID:27709005]

1. Longo N, Frigeni M, Pasquali M. (2016) Carnitine transport and fatty acid oxidation. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1863 (10): 2422-35. [PMID:26828774]