SLC6A6

UniProt ID: P31641
Organism: Homo sapiens
Review Status: INITIALIZED
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Gene Description

SLC6A6 (TauT) is the sodium- and chloride-dependent taurine transporter, a 12-transmembrane member of the SLC6 (sodium:neurotransmitter symporter, SNF) family. It catalyses secondary active, Na+- and Clβˆ’-coupled symport of taurine (stoichiometry 2 Na+ : 1 Clβˆ’ : 1 taurine) across the plasma membrane, providing high-affinity (low-micromolar KM) cellular uptake that maintains the high intracellular taurine concentrations required for osmoregulation and cytoprotection. It also transports, with lower affinity, other beta-amino acids and related compounds including beta-alanine, hypotaurine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The transporter is broadly expressed, most abundantly in placenta and skeletal muscle and prominently in retina, heart and kidney, where it is essential; in polarized epithelia it can reside on apical (e.g. placental microvillous) and/or basolateral membranes. Beyond the plasma membrane, SLC6A6 can also localize to the mitochondrial inner membrane and import taurine to support mitochondrial tRNA modification and mitochondrial translation, with PKA phosphorylation of its N-terminal region governing plasma-membrane versus mitochondrial targeting. Loss-of-function mutations cause hypotaurinemic retinal degeneration and cardiomyopathy (HTRDC), reflecting the transporter's central role in taurine homeostasis.

Existing Annotations Review

GO Term Evidence Action Reason
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetically inferred taurine:sodium symporter activity. This is the well-supported core molecular function of SLC6A6, corroborated by extensive experimental (IDA/IMP) evidence and multiple cryo-EM structures. Redundant with experimental annotations but correct.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SLC6A6/SLC6A6-uniprot.txt
Mediates sodium- and chloride-dependent transport of taurine,
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetically inferred plasma-membrane localization. Correct core location; SLC6A6 is a multi-pass plasma-membrane transporter, directly demonstrated by IDA and structural studies.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SLC6A6/SLC6A6-uniprot.txt
SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Cell membrane
GO:0006865 amino acid transport
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: General amino acid transport, correct but a broad parent of the specific taurine (beta-amino acid) transport function. Retained as a true but non-core generalization; the taurine-specific BP terms capture the core role.
GO:0015734 taurine transmembrane transport
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
ACCEPT
Summary: Phylogenetically inferred taurine transmembrane transport. This is the core biological process of SLC6A6 and is strongly supported by experimental data.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SLC6A6/SLC6A6-uniprot.txt
Mediates sodium- and chloride-dependent transport of taurine,
GO:0035725 sodium ion transmembrane transport
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Na+ is the co-transported driving ion (2 Na+ per taurine) rather than the substrate whose transport defines the transporter's function. Mechanistically correct but peripheral; retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:8010975
The Na+/Cl-/taurine stoichiometry for the cloned transporter is 2:1:1.
GO:0005332 gamma-aminobutyric acid:sodium:chloride symporter activity
IBA
GO_REF:0000033
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: GABA is a genuine but lower-affinity/secondary substrate of TauT (Na+/Clβˆ’-dependent), documented functionally and structurally. Not the defining physiological activity; retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SLC6A6/SLC6A6-uniprot.txt
Can also mediate transport of beta-alanine, hypotaurine and
GO:0001762 beta-alanine transport
IEA
GO_REF:0000108
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: beta-Alanine is a genuine secondary substrate of TauT (a beta-amino acid), transported Na+/Clβˆ’-dependently. Real but non-core relative to taurine.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19074966
high-affinity, low-capacity transporter of taurine and
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic (ARBA/InterPro/ortholog) assertion of the core taurine:sodium symporter activity. Correct and matches abundant experimental evidence; redundant IEA of the gene's own core function.
GO:0005743 mitochondrial inner membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000044
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: IEA from UniProt SubCell mapping of the recently described mitochondrial inner-membrane localization. This reflects the genuine (IDA-supported) moonlighting mitochondrial pool of SLC6A6; correct but non-canonical.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:41652173
SLC6A6 also localizes to mitochondria and imports
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000120
ACCEPT
Summary: Electronic assertion of plasma-membrane localization, the correct core location, redundant with strong IDA/ISS/IBA/TAS evidence.
GO:0006836 neurotransmitter transport
IEA
GO_REF:0000002
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: InterPro/keyword-derived family-level term. Taurine is an osmolyte and putative neuromodulator rather than a classical neurotransmitter; this term reflects membership in the SNF neurotransmitter-transporter family. Real at the family level for GABA handling but not the core SLC6A6 role.
GO:0016020 membrane
IEA
GO_REF:0000002
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Uninformative high-level cellular-component term superseded by the specific plasma-membrane and mitochondrial-inner-membrane annotations.
GO:0001761 beta-alanine transmembrane transporter activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: beta-Alanine transmembrane transporter activity, a genuine secondary substrate of TauT, transferred from the mouse ortholog (O35316) and confirmed by human IDA and structures. Real but non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SLC6A6/SLC6A6-uniprot.txt
Can also mediate transport of beta-alanine, hypotaurine and
GO:0005283 amino acid:sodium symporter activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Correct but general parent (Na+-coupled amino-acid symport) of the taurine-specific symporter activity. Retained as a true generalization.
GO:0005332 gamma-aminobutyric acid:sodium:chloride symporter activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: GABA:Na+:Clβˆ’ symporter activity transferred from mouse ortholog; a genuine secondary activity of TauT confirmed by human structures. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SLC6A6/SLC6A6-uniprot.txt
Can also mediate transport of beta-alanine, hypotaurine and
GO:0015185 gamma-aminobutyric acid transmembrane transporter activity
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: GABA transmembrane transporter activity (secondary substrate), transferred from mouse ortholog and confirmed by human IDA/structures. Non-core.
GO:2000773 negative regulation of cellular senescence
IEA
GO_REF:0000107
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Ortholog-transferred (mouse O35316) role linking taurine uptake to reduced senescence. Plausible given taurine's anti-aging/antioxidant effects but not independently established for human SLC6A6; a downstream, non-core role.
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:31903486
Taurine treatment of retinal degeneration and cardiomyopathy...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct assay of Na+-dependent taurine transport (KM 3.8 uM) in the HTRDC family study; core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:31903486
SLC6A6 taurine transporter deficiency
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:40615403
Dimerization and substrate recognition of human taurine tran...
ACCEPT
Summary: Structure-plus-function study directly demonstrating substrate-bound taurine transport by TauT; core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:40615403
taurine is primarily mediated by the taurine transporter (TauT)
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:41652173
SLC6A6 imports taurine into mitochondria to sustain mitochon...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct demonstration that SLC6A6 imports taurine (plasma-membrane and mitochondrial pools); core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:41652173
imports taurine for mitochondrial transfer RNA modifications
GO:0005743 mitochondrial inner membrane
IDA
PMID:41652173
SLC6A6 imports taurine into mitochondria to sustain mitochon...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Direct evidence that SLC6A6 also localizes to mitochondria and imports taurine there for mt-tRNA modification. A genuine, newly discovered non-canonical localization/function; retained as non-core relative to the defining plasma-membrane taurine uptake role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:41652173
SLC6A6 also localizes to mitochondria and imports
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
IDA
PMID:41652173
SLC6A6 imports taurine into mitochondria to sustain mitochon...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct evidence for plasma-membrane localization; PKA phosphorylation promotes plasma-membrane presence. Core location.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:41652173
it promotes SLC6A6 presence at the plasma
GO:0015185 gamma-aminobutyric acid transmembrane transporter activity
IDA
PMID:40615403
Dimerization and substrate recognition of human taurine tran...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Structure captured TauT bound to GABA and functional data confirm GABA transport; a genuine secondary substrate activity. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:40615403
the occluded state bound with substrate
GO:0070131 positive regulation of mitochondrial translation
IDA
PMID:41652173
SLC6A6 imports taurine into mitochondria to sustain mitochon...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: SLC6A6-imported mitochondrial taurine supports mt-tRNA modification and sustains mitochondrial translation; SLC6A6 deficiency abrogates mitochondrial translation. A genuine downstream role of the mitochondrial pool; non-core relative to the plasma-membrane transport function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:41652173
abrogates mitochondrial
GO:0001761 beta-alanine transmembrane transporter activity
IDA
PMID:41269860
Structural determination of the human taurine transporter Ta...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Structure bound to beta-alanine and functional data confirm beta-alanine as a substrate; genuine secondary activity. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:41269860
complexes with three taurine-mimetic inhibitors, including Ξ²-alanine,
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:40108449
Structural basis of augmenting taurine uptake by the taurine...
ACCEPT
Summary: Structure-plus-function study of augmenting taurine uptake by TauT; core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:40108449
augmenting taurine uptake by the taurine transporter
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:40789850
Molecular basis of human taurine transporter uptake and inhi...
ACCEPT
Summary: Cryo-EM plus biochemical assays of Na+/Clβˆ’-dependent taurine uptake; core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:40789850
by facilitating taurine uptake in a sodium- and
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:41269860
Structural determination of the human taurine transporter Ta...
ACCEPT
Summary: Structure and functional assays of the Na+/Clβˆ’-dependent taurine transporter (KM 7.62 uM); core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:41269860
homeostasis is maintained by the Na+/Cl--dependent taurine transporter (TauT).
GO:0006865 amino acid transport
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-352230
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Reactome pathway annotation placing SLC6A6 in plasma-membrane amino acid transport. Correct but a broad parent of the taurine-specific function; non-core generalization.
GO:0015185 gamma-aminobutyric acid transmembrane transporter activity
IDA
PMID:40789850
Molecular basis of human taurine transporter uptake and inhi...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: GABA captured as a substrate analogue in TauT structures; genuine secondary activity. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:40789850
substrate analogues (Ξ²-alanine,
GO:0015185 gamma-aminobutyric acid transmembrane transporter activity
IDA
PMID:41269860
Structural determination of the human taurine transporter Ta...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: GABA captured as a taurine-mimetic ligand in TauT structures; genuine secondary activity. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:41269860
complexes with three taurine-mimetic inhibitors, including Ξ²-alanine,
GO:2000773 negative regulation of cellular senescence
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Sequence-similarity (mouse O35316) transfer of an anti-senescence role. Consistent with taurine's antioxidant/anti-aging effects but not independently established for human SLC6A6; downstream, non-core.
GO:0005332 gamma-aminobutyric acid:sodium:chloride symporter activity
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: GABA:Na+:Clβˆ’ symporter activity by similarity to mouse ortholog; genuine secondary activity of TauT. Non-core.
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:19074966
Taurine uptake across the human intestinal brush-border memb...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct oocyte-expression characterization of TauT as a Na+/Clβˆ’-dependent high-affinity taurine transporter; core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19074966
TauT (SLC6A6) is a Na(+)- and
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IMP
PMID:23519128
Taurine transport in human placental trophoblast is importan...
ACCEPT
Summary: RNAi depletion of TauT reduces intracellular taurine, functionally implicating SLC6A6 in taurine transport; supports the core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23519128
deplete primary human trophoblast cells of TauT and reduce intracellular
GO:0089718 amino acid import across plasma membrane
IDA
PMID:24842606
Neurotransmitter transporter family including SLC6A6 and SLC...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: SLC6A6-transfection increases uptake of the amino-acid analogue 5-aminolevulinic acid across the plasma membrane in cancer cells. Supports import-across-plasma-membrane activity, though the physiological substrate is taurine; correct but general. Non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:24842606
neurotransmitter transporters including SLC6A6 and SLC6A13
GO:0005283 amino acid:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:8010975
Functional characterization and chromosomal localization of ...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Direct demonstration that the cloned transporter is Na+/Clβˆ’-dependent and beta-amino-acid-specific (2:1:1 stoichiometry). Correct but a general parent of the taurine:sodium symporter activity; non-core generalization.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:8010975
dependent on the presence of Na+ as
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IMP
PMID:31345061
Biallelic mutation of human SLC6A6 encoding the taurine tran...
ACCEPT
Summary: HTRDC patient variant (A78E) severely decreases taurine transport, genetically implicating SLC6A6 in taurine:sodium symport; core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:31345061
encoding the taurine transporter TAUT
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IMP
PMID:31903486
Taurine treatment of retinal degeneration and cardiomyopathy...
ACCEPT
Summary: HTRDC variant (G399V) decreases taurine transport, implicating SLC6A6 in taurine:sodium symport; core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:31903486
SLC6A6 taurine transporter deficiency
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:8010975
Functional characterization and chromosomal localization of ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Original functional characterization of the cloned human placental taurine transporter (Na+/Clβˆ’-dependent, high-affinity, 2:1:1); core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:8010975
The Na+/Cl-/taurine stoichiometry for the cloned transporter is 2:1:1.
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:8382624
Cloning of the human taurine transporter and characterizatio...
ACCEPT
Summary: Original cloning from human thyroid; expression conferred higher taurine uptake. Supports the core taurine:sodium symporter activity.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:8382624
expression of HTAU in COS-7 cells conferred a higher taurine uptake.
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
IDA
PMID:8654117
Isolation of a cDNA encoding a taurine transporter in the hu...
ACCEPT
Summary: RPE-derived clone; injected mRNA markedly increased Na+/Clβˆ’-dependent taurine uptake in oocytes (KM ~2 uM). Supports the core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:8654117
increased taurine uptake in Xenopus
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
IDA
PMID:31345061
Biallelic mutation of human SLC6A6 encoding the taurine tran...
ACCEPT
Summary: Patient-variant study: A78E does not affect cell-membrane localization, directly demonstrating plasma-membrane localization of SLC6A6. Core location.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SLC6A6/SLC6A6-uniprot.txt
does not affect cell
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
IDA
PMID:28112518
LC-MS/MS Based Quantitation of ABC and SLC Transporter Prote...
ACCEPT
Summary: Quantitative proteomics detected TAUT in plasma membranes of human RPE cells, directly supporting plasma-membrane localization. Core location.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28112518
LAT1, and MATE1 proteins were detected in both cell lines
GO:0015171 amino acid transmembrane transporter activity
IDA
PMID:24842606
Neurotransmitter transporter family including SLC6A6 and SLC...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: General amino-acid transmembrane transporter activity inferred from SLC6A6-mediated ALA uptake. Correct but a broad parent of the taurine-specific activity; non-core generalization.
GO:0015734 taurine transmembrane transport
IDA
PMID:19074966
Taurine uptake across the human intestinal brush-border memb...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct demonstration of TauT-mediated Na+/Clβˆ’-dependent taurine uptake at the intestinal brush-border membrane; core biological process.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19074966
TauT-mediated uptake
GO:0022858 alanine transmembrane transporter activity
IDA
PMID:19074966
Taurine uptake across the human intestinal brush-border memb...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: This ARUK-UCL IDA maps to the (alpha-)alanine transporter term, but the cited study characterizes TauT handling of taurine and beta-alanine, and independent data show TauT does NOT accept alpha-alanine (alpha-alanine did not inhibit taurine uptake). The finding almost certainly concerns beta-alanine, so the generic alanine term is an over-annotation. Per policy the experimental annotation is not removed.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:8654117
alpha-aminoisobutyric acid did not
GO:0032328 alanine transport
IDA
PMID:19074966
Taurine uptake across the human intestinal brush-border memb...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: As with the paired MF annotation, this (alpha-)alanine transport term likely reflects beta-alanine handling by TauT; alpha-alanine is not a TauT substrate. Over-annotation of the generic alanine term; experimental annotation retained.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:8654117
alpha-aminoisobutyric acid did not
GO:0089718 amino acid import across plasma membrane
IDA
PMID:19074966
Taurine uptake across the human intestinal brush-border memb...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: TauT-mediated import of taurine/beta-alanine across the intestinal apical plasma membrane. Correct but a general parent of the taurine-specific import; non-core generalization.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19074966
functional coexpression of PAT1 and TauT at the
GO:0015185 gamma-aminobutyric acid transmembrane transporter activity
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: GABA transporter activity by similarity to rat GAT (P31643). GABA is a genuine lower-affinity substrate of TauT; non-core.
GO:0015734 taurine transmembrane transport
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Sequence-similarity transfer of the core taurine transmembrane transport process. Correct core BP, redundant with strong experimental evidence.
GO:0015734 taurine transmembrane transport
IMP
PMID:23519128
Taurine transport in human placental trophoblast is importan...
ACCEPT
Summary: RNAi knockdown of TauT reduces intracellular taurine in trophoblast, directly implicating SLC6A6 in taurine transmembrane transport; core BP.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23519128
deplete primary human trophoblast cells of TauT and reduce intracellular
GO:0031528 microvillus membrane
IDA
PMID:15166008
Human placental taurine transporter in uncomplicated and IUG...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Immunocytochemistry localized placental TAUT primarily to the syncytiotrophoblast microvillous (maternal-facing/apical) plasma membrane. Genuine epithelial-context localization; a specific plasma-membrane sub-location, non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:15166008
primarily localized in the syncytiotrophoblast microvillous plasma membrane
GO:0045597 positive regulation of cell differentiation
IMP
PMID:23519128
Taurine transport in human placental trophoblast is importan...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: TauT depletion compromised trophoblast differentiation, indicating a tissue-specific role of taurine supply in differentiation. A genuine downstream effect of the transport function, not a core molecular role; retained as non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23519128
Trophoblast differentiation was compromised in TauT-deficient
GO:0051939 gamma-aminobutyric acid import
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: GABA import by similarity to rat GAT (P31643). GABA is a genuine secondary substrate; non-core process relative to taurine transport.
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
ACCEPT
Summary: Sequence-similarity transfer of plasma-membrane localization; correct core location, redundant with strong experimental evidence.
GO:0030425 dendrite
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Dendritic localization transferred by similarity from rat GABA transporter GAT (P31643), a neuronal paralog. SLC6A6 dendritic localization is not established in human; this is a weak paralog-based over-annotation.
GO:0043025 neuronal cell body
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Neuronal cell body localization transferred by similarity from rat GAT (P31643). Not established for human SLC6A6; weak paralog-based over-annotation.
GO:0016323 basolateral plasma membrane
IDA
PMID:31791063
Quantitative Protein Expression in the Human Retinal Pigment...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Quantitative proteomics of human fetal RPE detected TAUT on the basolateral plasma membrane (present on both surfaces). Genuine epithelial-polarity sub-location of the core plasma-membrane localization; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:31791063
apical and basolateral RPE surface proteomes
GO:0016324 apical plasma membrane
IDA
PMID:31791063
Quantitative Protein Expression in the Human Retinal Pigment...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Quantitative proteomics of human fetal RPE detected TAUT on the apical plasma membrane; consistent with the apical (maternal-facing) placental localization. Genuine epithelial-polarity sub-location of the core plasma-membrane localization; non-core.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:31791063
apical and basolateral RPE surface proteomes
GO:0015171 amino acid transmembrane transporter activity
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-351987
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Reactome curator statement (SLC6A6-mediated uptake of taurine and beta-alanine). Correct but a general parent of the taurine-specific activity; non-core generalization.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-351987
The plasma membrane transport protein SLC6A6 mediates the uptake of taurine and beta-alanine.
GO:0150104 transport across blood-brain barrier
NAS
PMID:30280653
Blood-Brain Barrier: From Physiology to Disease and Back.
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Non-traceable author statement citing a general blood-brain-barrier review. The cited review (BBB physiology) does not specifically establish SLC6A6 as a BBB taurine transporter in its cached text. Low-confidence, peripheral; not core.
GO:0150104 transport across blood-brain barrier
NAS
PMID:26590417
Establishment and Dysfunction of the Blood-Brain Barrier.
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Non-traceable author statement citing a general BBB review that does not specifically address SLC6A6 in its cached text. Low-confidence, peripheral; not core.
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
IDA
PMID:31903486
Taurine treatment of retinal degeneration and cardiomyopathy...
ACCEPT
Summary: HTRDC family study: variant G399V does not affect cell-membrane localization, directly demonstrating plasma-membrane localization. Core location.
Supporting Evidence:
file:human/SLC6A6/SLC6A6-uniprot.txt
does not affect cell membrane localization
GO:0015734 taurine transmembrane transport
IDA
PMID:31903486
Taurine treatment of retinal degeneration and cardiomyopathy...
ACCEPT
Summary: Direct assay of taurine transport (KM 3.8 uM) in the HTRDC family study; core biological process.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:31903486
SLC6A6 taurine transporter deficiency
GO:0098739 import across plasma membrane
ISS
GO_REF:0000024
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: Sequence-similarity transfer of the generic import-across-plasma-membrane process. Correct but a broad parent of the taurine-specific import; non-core generalization.
GO:0015734 taurine transmembrane transport
TAS
PMID:8010975
Functional characterization and chromosomal localization of ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Author statement from the original placental transporter characterization; core biological process, redundant with experimental evidence.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:8010975
cloned taurine
GO:0005886 plasma membrane
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-351987
ACCEPT
Summary: Reactome curator statement placing SLC6A6 at the plasma membrane; correct core location.
Supporting Evidence:
Reactome:R-HSA-351987
The plasma membrane transport protein SLC6A6
GO:0005369 taurine:sodium symporter activity
TAS
PMID:8010975
Functional characterization and chromosomal localization of ...
ACCEPT
Summary: Author statement from the original placental cloning/characterization supporting Na+/Clβˆ’-dependent taurine symport; core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:8010975
The Na+/Cl-/taurine stoichiometry for the cloned transporter is 2:1:1.
GO:0016020 membrane
TAS
PMID:8010975
Functional characterization and chromosomal localization of ...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: Uninformative generic membrane term superseded by the specific plasma-membrane annotation from the same and other studies.

Core Functions

Sodium- and chloride-coupled secondary active symport of taurine across the plasma membrane (2 Na+ : 1 Clβˆ’ : 1 taurine), providing high-affinity (low-micromolar KM) cellular uptake of taurine. This is the defining activity of TauT, demonstrated by cloning/oocyte assays, patient loss-of-function variants, and multiple substrate-bound cryo-EM structures.

Supporting Evidence:
  • file:human/SLC6A6/SLC6A6-uniprot.txt
    Mediates sodium- and chloride-dependent transport of taurine,
  • PMID:8010975
    The Na+/Cl-/taurine stoichiometry for the cloned transporter is 2:1:1.
  • PMID:19074966
    TauT (SLC6A6) is a Na(+)- and

Lower-affinity Na+/Clβˆ’-dependent transport of additional beta-amino acids and related compounds β€” beta-alanine, hypotaurine and GABA β€” via the same substrate-binding site. These are genuine but secondary substrates captured in TauT structures and functional assays.

Directly Involved In:
Cellular Locations:
Supporting Evidence:
  • file:human/SLC6A6/SLC6A6-uniprot.txt
    Can also mediate transport of beta-alanine, hypotaurine and
  • PMID:19074966
    high-affinity, low-capacity transporter of taurine and

A mitochondrial pool of SLC6A6, targeted to the mitochondrial inner membrane via an N-terminal targeting sequence and regulated by PKA phosphorylation, imports taurine into mitochondria to support mitochondrial tRNA modification and thereby sustain mitochondrial translation. This is a newly described non-canonical localization/role distinct from the plasma-membrane uptake function.

Supporting Evidence:

References

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Notes

(SLC6A6-notes.md)

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