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SLC7A3 solute carrier family 7 member 3 [ Homo sapiens (human) ]

Gene ID: 84889, updated on 5-Aug-2026
Official Symbol
SLC7A3provided by HGNC
Official Full Name
solute carrier family 7 member 3provided by HGNC
Primary source
HGNC:HGNC:11061
See related
Ensembl:ENSG00000165349 MIM:300443; AllianceGenome:HGNC:11061
Gene type
protein coding
RefSeq status
REVIEWED
Organism
Homo sapiens
Lineage
Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Primates; Haplorrhini; Catarrhini; Hominidae; Homo
Also known as
CAT3; ATRC3; CAT-3
Summary
This gene encodes a member of the solute carrier family 7. The encoded protein is a sodium-independent cationic amino acid transporter. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcripts that encoded the same protein.[provided by RefSeq, May 2010]
Expression
Biased expression in endometrium (RPKM 1.9), prostate (RPKM 1.2) and 8 other tissues See more
Orthologs
all
Try the new Gene page
Try the new Transcripts and proteins table
See SLC7A3 in Genome Data Viewer
Location:
Xq13.1
Exon count:
12
Annotation release Status Assembly Chr Location
RS_2025_08 current GRCh38.p14 (GCF_000001405.40) X NC_000023.11 (70925579..70931096, complement)
RS_2025_08 current T2T-CHM13v2.0 (GCF_009914755.1) X NC_060947.1 (69359629..69365145, complement)
RS_2024_09 previous assembly GRCh37.p13 (GCF_000001405.25) X NC_000023.10 (70145429..70150946, complement)

Chromosome X - NC_000023.11Genomic Context describing neighboring genes Neighboring gene testis expressed 11 Neighboring gene small nucleolar RNA, C/D box 3E Neighboring gene WASHC3 pseudogene 1 Neighboring gene H3K27ac-H3K4me1 hESC enhancer GRCh37_chrX:70150189-70150690 Neighboring gene ribosomal protein S23 pseudogene 8 Neighboring gene nuclear transport factor 2 pseudogene 7

Go to nucleotide: Graphics FASTA GenBank

Related articles in PubMed

  1. Human cationic amino acid transporter hCAT-3 is preferentially expressed in peripheral tissues. Vékony N, et al. Biochemistry, 2001 Oct 16. PMID 11591158
  2. Monovalent cation conductance in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing hCAT-3. Gilles W, et al. Biochim Biophys Acta, 2005 Mar 1. PMID 15737334
  3. SLC7A3: In Silico Prediction of a Potential New Cause of Childhood Epilepsy. Sourbron J, et al. Neuropediatrics, 2022 Feb. PMID 34872132
  4. Activation of classical protein kinase C reduces the expression of human cationic amino acid transporter 3 (hCAT-3) in the plasma membrane. Rotmann A, et al. Biochem J, 2006 Apr 1. PMID 16332251, Free PMC Article
  5. Hypomorphic variants of cationic amino acid transporter 3 in males with autism spectrum disorders. Nava C, et al. Amino Acids, 2015 Dec. PMID 26215737, Free PMC Article

See all (26) citations in PubMed

GeneRIFs: Gene References Into Functions

What's a GeneRIF?
  1. rare hypomorphic variants of SLC7A3 exist in male individuals, SLC7A3 variants possibly contribute to the etiology of autism spectrum disorders in male subjects in association with other genetic factors
    Title: Hypomorphic variants of cationic amino acid transporter 3 in males with autism spectrum disorders.
  2. knockdown impaired AMPK-PPAR-alpha signaling and resulted in lipid accumulation under glucose starvation in liver cells
    Title: Genetic ablation of solute carrier family 7a3a leads to hepatic steatosis in zebrafish during fasting.
  3. CAT1, CAT2, and CAT3 localized in adult brains but with uneven distribution.
    Title: Differential topochemistry of three cationic amino acid transporter proteins, hCAT1, hCAT2 and hCAT3, in the adult human brain.
  4. is concluded that hCAT-3 is a passive transport system that conducts monovalent cations including L-Arg.
    Title: Monovalent cation conductance in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing hCAT-3.
  5. It is concluded that similar to hCAT-1, hCAT-3 activity is decreased by PKC via reduction of transporter molecules in the plasma membrane.
    Title: Activation of classical protein kinase C reduces the expression of human cationic amino acid transporter 3 (hCAT-3) in the plasma membrane.
Submit: New GeneRIF Correction

Find tests for this gene in the NIH Genetic Testing Registry (GTR)

Review eQTL and phenotype association data in this region using PheGenI

See variants in ClinVar

See studies and variants in dbVar

See Variation Viewer (GRCh37.p13)

Products Interactant Other Gene Complex Source Pubs Description

Markers

Homology

Clone Names

  • FLJ14541, MGC20687

Gene Ontology Provided by GOA

Function Evidence Code Pubs
enables L-arginine transmembrane transporter activity IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
enables L-arginine transmembrane transporter activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables L-lysine transmembrane transporter activity IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
enables L-lysine transmembrane transporter activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables L-ornithine transmembrane transporter activity IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
enables amino acid transmembrane transporter activity IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
enables amino acid transmembrane transporter activity TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
  
enables basic amino acid transmembrane transporter activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables protein binding IPI
Inferred from Physical Interaction
more info
 PubMed 
enables transmembrane transporter activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
Process Evidence Code Pubs
involved_in L-arginine import across plasma membrane IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in L-lysine import across plasma membrane IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in L-lysine transmembrane transport IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in L-ornithine import across plasma membrane IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in amino acid import across plasma membrane IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in amino acid transport IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
involved_in amino acid transport IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in amino acid transport TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
  
involved_in ornithine transport IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in transmembrane transport IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in transport across blood-brain barrier NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
Component Evidence Code Pubs
located_in membrane IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
is_active_in plasma membrane IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
located_in plasma membrane IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
located_in plasma membrane IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in plasma membrane TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
  
Preferred Names
cationic amino acid transporter 3
Names
solute carrier family 7 (cationic amino acid transporter, y+ system), member 3

NEW Try the new Transcript table

RefSeqs maintained independently of Annotated Genomes

These reference sequences exist independently of genome builds. Explain

These reference sequences are curated independently of the genome annotation cycle, so their versions may not match the RefSeq versions in the current genome build. Identify version mismatches by comparing the version of the RefSeq in this section to the one reported in Genomic regions, transcripts, and products above.

Genomic

  1. NG_021370.1 RefSeqGene

    Range
    5030..10547
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. NM_001048164.3 → NP_001041629.1  cationic amino acid transporter 3

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_001041629.1

    Status: REVIEWED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (2) differs in the 5' UTR compared to variant 1. Both variants 1 and 2 encode the same protein.
    Source sequence(s)
    AK075014, BC033816
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS14404.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    D3DVU7, Q5JQR2, Q8N185, Q8NCA7, Q8WY07, Q96SZ7
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A0ACI8T2I3
    Related
    ENSP00000298085.4, ENST00000298085.5
    Conserved Domains (2) summary
    TIGR00906
    Location:9 → 591
    2A0303; cationic amino acid transport permease
    pfam13906
    Location:539 → 589
    AA_permease_C; C-terminus of AA_permease

  2. NM_032803.6 → NP_116192.4  cationic amino acid transporter 3

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_116192.4

    Status: REVIEWED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (1) represents the longer transcript. Both variants 1 and 2 encode the same protein.
    Source sequence(s)
    AK074865, AL627071, BC033816
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS14404.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    D3DVU7, Q5JQR2, Q8N185, Q8NCA7, Q8WY07, Q96SZ7
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A0ACI8T2I3
    Related
    ENSP00000363417.3, ENST00000374299.8
    Conserved Domains (2) summary
    TIGR00906
    Location:9 → 591
    2A0303; cationic amino acid transport permease
    pfam13906
    Location:539 → 589
    AA_permease_C; C-terminus of AA_permease

RefSeqs of Annotated Genomes: GCF_000001405.40-RS_2025_08

The following sections contain reference sequences that belong to a specific genome build. Explain

Reference GRCh38.p14 Primary Assembly

Genomic

  1. NC_000023.11 Reference GRCh38.p14 Primary Assembly

    Range
    70925579..70931096 complement
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. XM_047442598.1 → XP_047298554.1  cationic amino acid transporter 3 isoform X1

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    D3DVU7, Q5JQR2, Q8N185, Q8NCA7, Q8WY07, Q96SZ7
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A0ACI8T2I3

Alternate T2T-CHM13v2.0

Genomic

  1. NC_060947.1 Alternate T2T-CHM13v2.0

    Range
    69359629..69365145 complement
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)
Nucleotide Protein
Heading Accession and Version
Protein Accession Links
GenPept Link UniProtKB Link
Q8WY07.1 GenPept UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot:Q8WY07

Gene LinkOut

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