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

* Matthaei J, Kuron D, Faltraco F, Knoch T, Dos Santos Pereira JN, Abu Abed M, Prukop T, Brockmöller J, Tzvetkov MV. (2016) OCT1 mediates hepatic uptake of sumatriptan and loss-of-function OCT1 polymorphisms affect sumatriptan pharmacokinetics. Clin Pharmacol Ther, 99 (6): 633-41. [PMID:26659468]

* 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]