This gene encodes a protein that belongs to a family of light subunits of amino acid transporters. This protein plays a role in the high-affinity and sodium-independent transport of cystine and neutral and dibasic amino acids, and appears to function in the reabsorption of cystine in the kidney tubule.[5] The protein associates with the protein coded for by SLC3A1.[6]
Mutations in this gene cause non-type I cystinuria, a disease that leads to cystine stones in the urinary system due to impaired transport of cystine and dibasic amino acids.[5]
^Feliubadaló L, Font M, Purroy J, Rousaud F, Estivill X, Nunes V, Golomb E, Centola M, Aksentijevich I, Kreiss Y, Goldman B, Pras M, Kastner DL, Pras E, Gasparini P, Bisceglia L, Beccia E, Gallucci M, de Sanctis L, Ponzone A, Rizzoni GF, Zelante L, Bassi MT, George AL, Manzoni M, De Grandi A, Riboni M, Endsley JK, Ballabio A, Borsani G, Reig N, Fernández E, Estévez R, Pineda M, Torrents D, Camps M, Lloberas J, Zorzano A, Palacín M (September 1999). "Non-type I cystinuria caused by mutations in SLC7A9, encoding a subunit (bo, AT) of rBAT". Nat. Genet. 23 (1): 52–7. doi:10.1038/12652. PMID10471498. S2CID204989591.
