Background

Figure 1. NTCP structure with both Na ions and bile salts bound. PDB file 7ZYI.

• Sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) is a sodium-dependent transporter in the body that is responsible for the transportation of bile salts from the blood into epithelial liver cells. Both sodium ions and bile salts bind to NTCP in the same binding pocket on the molecule (Fig. 1). NTCP also acts as a receptor for Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis D virus.
• The bile salts transported by NTCP are located within the gastrointestinal tract of the body and play a very key role in many biological functions. These functions include digesting and absorbing nutrients by helping break down fats and transporting lipid soluble nutrients into the liver. ^[1]
• The NTCP carrier protein itself can be found within hepatocytes, or the epithelial cells of the liver, but more specifically, within the basolateral membrane of these cells. ^[2]

Structural Overview

Function

Binding Pocket

Mechanism

Significance

HBV/ HDV

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