HUT2, kidney, MGC119566, MGC119567, Slc14a2, Solute carrier family 14 urea transporter, member 2, Solute carrier family 14 member 2, Urea transporter 2, Urea transporter, Urea transporter, kidney, UT-A2, UT2, UT2_HUMAN, UTA, UTR, FLJ16167, hUT-A6.
Water balance is tightly regulated in the kidneys. Through urinary concentration mechanisms, the kidney prevents the unnecessary excrement of water, thereby protecting the body from dehydration. UT-A (Urea transporter, kidney), also known as SLC14A2 and HUT2, is a 920 amino acid multi-pass membrane protein that functions as a specialized low-affinity vasopressin-regulated urea-transporter. Expressed in the inner medulla of the kidney and localized to the apical membrane, UT-A mediates rapid transepithelial urea transport across the inner medullary collecting duct. There are two isoforms of UT-A that are produced as a result of alternative splicing events. Isoform 1 interacts with Snapin, a SNARE-associated protein, which is thought to help in its recruitment to the plasma membrane. Interestingly, isoform 1 expression is induced by low protein in the diet, whereas isoform 2 expression is induced by dehydration.
