SLC25A20
SLC25A20 (solute carrier family 25 member 20, also known as CAC or CACT) is a mitochondrial inner membrane carrier that exchanges acylcarnitines for free carnitine. It is a key component of the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation pathway. Browse Assay Genie's current range of SLC25A20 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
SLC25A20 mediates the electroneutral exchange of acylcarnitines of different acyl chain lengths, from O-acetyl-(R)-carnitine to long-chain O-acyl-(R)-carnitines, with free carnitine across the mitochondrial inner membrane. The exchange proceeds by a ping-pong mechanism. In this way the carrier translocates fatty acids, in the form of acylcarnitines, into the mitochondrial matrix, where carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT-2) activates them for fatty acid beta-oxidation. The protein can also catalyse unidirectional transport (uniport) of carnitine, although at lower rates than antiport (exchange).
The SLC25A20 gene encodes the mitochondrial carnitine/acylcarnitine carrier protein, one of several closely related mitochondrial-membrane carriers that shuttle substrates between the cytosol and the intramitochondrial matrix space. It belongs to the mitochondrial carrier family (TC 2.A.29) and to the solute carrier family 25 gene group. The mouse and rat orthologues are both named Slc25a20, which makes rodent models a natural route for studying the carrier.
The protein was formerly described as solute carrier family 25 (carnitine/acylcarnitine translocase), member 20, and the aliases CAC and CACT remain in use. Mutations in the SLC25A20 gene are associated with carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency. This condition can cause hypoglycaemia, cardiac arrest, hepatomegaly, hepatic dysfunction and muscle weakness, and is usually lethal in newborns and infants. The link between transport and disease makes SLC25A20 a useful target for work on mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.
SLC25A20 carries acylcarnitines into the mitochondrial matrix, where CPT-2 activates them for beta-oxidation, placing it at a central step of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.
As a mitochondrial carrier that shuttles substrates between cytosol and matrix, SLC25A20 is a model for studying exchange and uniport across the inner membrane.
Mutations in SLC25A20 cause carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency, so the protein is studied in neonatal metabolic disorders involving hypoglycaemia and hepatic dysfunction.
Deficiency of this carrier is linked to cardiac arrest and muscle weakness, motivating research on how fatty acid import supports heart and muscle function.
SLC25A20 exchanges acylcarnitines for free carnitine across the mitochondrial inner membrane by a ping-pong mechanism. This moves fatty acids into the matrix, where CPT-2 activates them for beta-oxidation. It can also transport carnitine by uniport, at lower rates than exchange.
SLC25A20 is also called CAC or CACT, and its UniProt name is mitochondrial carnitine/acylcarnitine carrier protein. An earlier HGNC name was solute carrier family 25 (carnitine/acylcarnitine translocase), member 20. Searches for the carrier may use any of these names.
Mouse and rat both have an orthologue named Slc25a20. In humans, mutations in the gene are associated with carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency, which is usually lethal in newborns and infants. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other solute carrier proteins and transporters that sit alongside SLC25A20 in membrane transport research.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt O43772; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.