Calcium-binding mitochondrial carrier protein Aralar1

The SLC25A12 gene is located on the q arm of chromosome 2 in position 31.1 and spans 110,902 base pairs. The encoded protein, Aralar1, is a multi-pass membrane protein located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. == Function ==

The protein encoded by SLC25A12, Aralar1, is a mitochondrial calcium-binding carrier that facilitates the calcium-dependent exchange of cytoplasmic glutamate with mitochondrial aspartate across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Aralar binds to one calcium ion with high affinity. Upon calcium binding, the EF-hand-containing regulatory N-terminal domain binds to the C-terminal domain, opening a vestibule which allows the substrates to be translocated through the carrier domain. In the absence of calcium, the linker loop domain may close the vestibule, which may prevent substrates from entering the carrier domain. As a member of the malate-aspartate NADH shuttle, Aralar is also involved in the transfer of cytosolic reducing equivalents from the cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix. Aralar, along with the protein encoded by SLC25A13, are both calcium-binding aspartate/glutamate carriers which are substrates in the TIMM8A/TIMM13 complex. == Clinical Significance ==

Overexpression of Aralar1 augments mitochondrial metabolism and increases insulin secretion in pancreatic cells. Aralar is expressed as both a 3.2 kb and 2.9 kb mRNA transcript in heart and skeletal muscle cells, and in lesser amounts in brain and kidney cells. == Interactions ==

Aralar has interactions with SCO1, ATF2, COX14, COA3, in addition to 36 other proteins. == See also ==