Xct Protein Slc7A11 Cystine Glutamate Antiporter is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
Xct Protein Slc7A11 Cystine Glutamate Antiporter is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
<div class="infobox infobox-protein"> [@slcaxct]
<table> [@targeting]
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#f0f0f0;">xCT Protein (SLC7A11)</th></tr> [@nrf]
<tr><td><b>Protein Name</b></td><td>xCT (Cystine/Glutamate Antiporter)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Gene</b></td><td>[SLC7A11](/genes/slc7a11)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>UniProt ID</b></td><td>[Q9UPN3](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9UPN3)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Alternative Names</b></td><td>System Xc− light chain, xCT</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Molecular Weight</b></td><td>~55 kDa</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Subcellular Localization</b></td><td>Plasma membrane</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Protein Family</b></td><td>SLC7 family (heterodimeric amino acid transporters)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Structure</b></td><td>12 transmembrane domains</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Associated Diseases</td>
<td><a href="/wiki/als" style="color:#ef9a9a">ALS</a>, <a href="/wiki/aging" style="color:#ef9a9a">Aging</a>, <a href="/wiki/als" style="color:#ef9a9a">Als</a>, <a href="/wiki/alzheimer" style="color:#ef9a9a">Alzheimer</a>, <a href="/wiki/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis" style="color:#ef9a9a">Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">883 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
xCT (SLC7A11) is the light chain subunit of the cystine/glutamate antiporter system Xc− (system x_c^−). This heterodimeric amino acid transporter plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis by mediating the uptake of cystine in exchange for glutamate export, thereby providing the essential substrate for glutathione synthesis.
xCT (SLC7A11) must partner with 4F2hc (SLC3A2) to form a functional transporter:
The primary function of xCT is to mediate system Xc− activity:
By providing cysteine for GSH synthesis, xCT:
| Compound | Mechanism | Clinical Status |
|----------|-----------|-----------------|
| Sulfasalazine | Direct inhibition | Preclinical |
| Erastin | Covalent binding | Research |
| Sorafenib | Multikinase including xCT | FDA approved |
| SAS | Reversible inhibition | Research |
| Strategy | Approach | Status |
|----------|----------|--------|
| NRF2 activators | Indirect upregulation | Research |
| Cystine supplementation | Bypass transport | Clinical trials |
| Gene therapy | Increase expression | Preclinical |
| Partner | Interaction Type | Function |
|---------|-----------------|----------|
| SLC3A2 (4F2hc) | Complex formation | Functional transporter |
| NRF2 | Transcriptional regulation | Stress-responsive activation |
| KEAP1 | Regulation | NRF2-Keap1 pathway |
| GCLM | Co-regulation | GSH synthesis gene cluster |
The study of Xct Protein Slc7A11 Cystine Glutamate Antiporter has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
Interactive diagram showing SLC7A11 key relationships in the SciDEX knowledge graph (15 connections shown).