Introduction

Sodium Taurocholate Co-Transporting Polypeptide, or NTCP, is a membrane transporter protein that is found in the plasma membrane of liver cells, or hepatocytes. NTCP's primary function is the transportation of taurocholates, or bile salts, into the liver and out of the liver to the small intestine ^[1] Bile salts play various roles in metabolism and digestion, but their main function is the emulsification of lipid droplets into smaller fragments. This enables lipases to break down the droplets into their monomers, or triglycerides which are then able to be digested. NTCP is part of the solute carrier superfamily, more specifically SLC10. NTCP is the founding member of the SLC10 family, first discovered in rat hepatocytes in 1978. ^[2] NTCP has a key role in Enterohepatic circulation or bile salt recycling, and its unique ability to transport other solutes lends it therapeutic potential for lowering cholesterol and treating liver disease.

NTCP also serves as a binding site for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis D virus. ^[3] Future studies into HBV binding mechanism can help understand infection pathways and the development of viral inhibitors.

Structure

Figure 2: cartoon depiction of NTCP topology

Overview

NTCP is one continuous polypeptide chain consisting of a total of (Fig. 2). The N-terminus of the polypeptide chain is found on the extracellular region of the plasma membrane while the C-terminus is located on the intracellular region. There are within the quaternary structure of NTCP: a core domain and a panel domain both being a part of the same polypeptide chain (Fig. 2). The (blue) includes 6 transmembrane α helices (TM2-4 and TM7-9) and demonstrates two-fold pseudosymmetry. The (red) 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, and within this motif lies essential residues that aid in the conformational change that NTCP undergoes. The core and panel domains are connected by both extracellular and intracellular that are separate from the nine transmembrane α helices.

Binding Sites

Sodium

NTCP, among others in the SLC10 family, have . Many polar and negatively charged residues are characteristic of these active sites. The high level of conservation among sodium binding placement and interacting residues suggests sodium binding is coupled to bile salt transport. Additional mutations in the X-motif near sodium binding sites have shown that bile salt transport function is lost. This suggests sodium binding impacts bile salt binding. ^[4] It is understood that sodium binding and release facilitates changes from open-pore to inward-facing states of NTCP. The inward-facing state is favored in the absence of sodium ions, while the open-pore state is favored in the presence of sodium ions. This also allows for sodium concentrations to regulate the uptake of taurocholates. When intracellular sodium levels are higher, the open-pore state is favored allowing for the diffusion of taurocholates. However, when extracellular sodium levels are high, the inward-facing state is favored preventing diffusion of taurocholates. ^[4]

Bile Salts

The is also characteristic of NTCP. The pore surface remains Hydrophobic, while lining of the open pore state is largely Polar. However, in the "inward-facing conformation" the polar pore residues are inaccessible. When the pore is closed only the surface hydrophobic residues are observed. As the pore opens up inner polar residues become accessible allowing for the binding of substrates. The pattern of hydrophobic and polar residues within the pore is believed to follow similar amphipathic patterns within taurocholate and other NTCP substrates, such as steroids and thyroid hormones. ^[5] Thus the channel provides specificity while preventing leakage of other substrates. When observing the relevant it is shown that some residues form Van der Waals interactions while others will form dipole-dipole or ionic interactions with bile salt substrates. The core domain appears to contribute most of the polar domains, while the panel domain contributes more hydrophobic residues.

Conformational Change

	Cartoon representation of NTCP conformational change.

	Cartoon representation of NTCP conformational change.

NTCP exists in two different conformations; the and the . In order to transport bile salts across the plasma membrane of hepocytes, NTCP must undergo the conformational change from inward facing to open pore. This movement consists of the core and panel domains both rotating 20° and the panel domain moving 5 Å away from the core domain, which remains relatively rigid. This conformational change reveals the two sodium ion binding sites as well as the amphipathic pore in the membrane that bile salts can pass through. This movement of the panel domain is facilitated by located in the connector helices between the panel and core domains. These residues act as hinges that assist in the movement of the panel domain away from the core domain.

Bile Salt Transport

Figure 5: Diagram of Proposed Bile Salt Transport Process

A proposed pathway for NTCP bile salt transport suggests that both sodium ions are translocated with the transport of one bile salt.^[6] In this mechanism both sodium ions are released along with the inner bile salt into the cytoplasm (Fig. 5). The outermost bile salt remains bound however in the pore, likely helping to prevent leakage. ^[6]