SLC4A3
Encyclopedia
Anion exchange protein 3 is a membrane transport protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC4A3 gene
. AE3 is functionally similar to the Band 3
Cl-
/HCO3-
exchange protein but it is expressed primarily in brain
neuron
s and in the heart
. Like AE2
its activity is sensitive to pH
. AE3 mutations have been linked to seizure
s.
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
. AE3 is functionally similar to the Band 3
Band 3
Anion Exchanger 1 or Band 3 is a phylogenetically preserved transport protein responsible for mediating the exchange of chloride for bicarbonate across a plasma membrane. Functionally similar members of the AE clade are AE2 and AE3.It is ubiquitous throughout the vertebrates...
Cl-
Chloride
The chloride ion is formed when the element chlorine, a halogen, picks up one electron to form an anion Cl−. The salts of hydrochloric acid HCl contain chloride ions and can also be called chlorides. The chloride ion, and its salts such as sodium chloride, are very soluble in water...
/HCO3-
Bicarbonate
In inorganic chemistry, bicarbonate is an intermediate form in the deprotonation of carbonic acid...
exchange protein but it is expressed primarily in brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
neuron
Neuron
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling. Chemical signaling occurs via synapses, specialized connections with other cells. Neurons connect to each other to form networks. Neurons are the core components of the nervous...
s and in the heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
. Like AE2
SLC4A2
Anion exchange protein 2 is a membrane transport protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC4A2 gene. AE2 is functionally similar to the Band 3 Cl-/HCO3- exchange protein....
its activity is sensitive to pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
. AE3 mutations have been linked to seizure
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain". The outward effect can be as dramatic as a wild thrashing movement or as mild as a brief loss of awareness...
s.