Introduction

Sodium Taurocholate Co-Transporting Polypeptide, or NTCP, is a transporter protein that is found in the plasma membrane of liver cells, or hepocytes. NTCP's primary function is the transportation of bile salts into the liver and out of the liver to the small intestine ^[1].

Structure

cartoon depiction of NTCP topology

Sodium Taurocholate Co-Transporting Polypeptide, or NTCP, is one continuous polypeptide chain consisting of a total of 9 transmembrane α helices (TM1-9). There are two distinct domains within the quaternary structure of NTCP: a (blue) and a (red), both being a part of the same polypeptide chain. The core domain includes 6 transmembrane α helices (TM2-4 and TM7-9) and demonstrates two-fold pseudosymmetry while the panel domain consists of 3 transmembrane α helices (TM1 and TM5-6) and does not display symmetry. Within the core domain, there is a unique crossover between TM-3 and TM-8 that is known as the . This motif is important because this is where the transporter's substrate binding site is located.

Conformational Change

Bile Salt Transport

Medical Relevancy

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