Structure and function of mammalian sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter

This review focuses on the advances made in recent years in the understanding of the multivitamin transporter, a unique and important transporter that transports not one but three different unrelated water- soluble vitamins namely, pantothenate, biotin and lipoate. The transport process mediated by the transporter is active and is energized by the transmembrane sodium ion gradient as well as the membrane potential. The transporter belongs to the sodium-coupled glucose transporter family. The ubiquitous expression of this transporter in mammalian tissues and the fact that it is highly conserved across the species indicate the nutritional relevance and importance of this transporter. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.