Molecular cloning, functional characterization, tissue distribution, and chromosomal localization of a human, small intestinal sodium-phosphate (Na⁺- P(i)) transporter (SLC34A2)

Phosphate plays a crucial role in cellular metabolism, and its homeostatic regulation in intestinal and renal epithelia is critical. Apically expressed sodium-phosphate (Na⁺-P(i)) transporters play a critical role in this regulation. We have isolated a cDNA (HGMW-approved symbol SLC34A2) encoding a novel human small intestinal Na⁺-P(i) transporter. The cDNA is shown to be 4135 bp in length with an open reading frame that predicts a 689-amino-acid polypeptide. The putative protein has 76% homology to mouse intestinal type II Na⁺-P(i) transporter (Na/Pi-IIb) and lower homologics with renal type II Na⁺-P(i) transporters. Northern blots showed a singular transcript of 5.0 kb in human lung, small intestine, and kidney. Computer analysis suggests a protein with 11 transmembrane domains and several potential posttranslational modification sites. Functional characterization in Xenopus laevis oocytes showed that this cDNA encodes a functional Na⁺-P(i) transporter. Furthermore, the gene encoding this cDNA was mapped to human chromosome 4p15.1-p15.3 by the FISH method.