The SLC23 family of ascorbate transporters: ensuring that you get and keep your daily dose of vitamin C
Open accessAbstract
The ascorbate transporters SVCT1 and SVCT2 are crucial for maintaining intracellular ascorbate concentrations in most cell types. Although the two transporter isoforms are highly homologous, they have different physiologic functions. The SVCT1 is located primarily in epithelial cells and has its greatest effect in reabsorbing ascorbate in the renal tubules. The SVCT2 is located in most non‐epithelial tissues, with the highest expression in brain and neuroendocrine tissues. These transporters are hydrophobic membrane proteins that have a high affinity and are highly selective for ascorbate. Their ability to concentrate ascorbate inside cells is driven by the sodium gradient across the plasma membrane as generated by Na+/K+ ATPase. They can concentrate ascorbate 20 to 60‐fold over plasma ascorbate concentrations. Ascorbate transport on these proteins is regulated at the transcriptional, translational and post‐translational levels. Available studies show that transporter function is acutely regulated by protein kinases A and C, whereas transporter expression is increased by low intracellular ascorbate and associated oxidative stress. The knockout of the SVCT2 in mice is lethal on day 1 of life, and almost half of SVCT1 knockout mice do not survive to weaning. These findings confirm the importance both of cellular ascorbate and of the two transport proteins as key to maintaining intracellular ascorbate. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Transporters. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.164.issue‐7
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SVCT1 expression in the body is largely confined to the epithelial cells in the small intestine and the kidney and is associated with active inter-cellular transport of the vitamin.
“SVCT1 expression in the body is largely confined to the epithelial cells in the small intestine and the kidney and is associated with active inter-cellular transport of the vitamin [40,41].”
From The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. (2017) · cites this paper as [40]
Cites
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The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health.
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“SVCT1 expression in the body is largely confined to the epithelial cells in the small intestine and the kidney and is associated with active inter-cellular transport of the vitamin [40,41].”
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- Authors
- May, J. M.
- Affiliations
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- May, James M
- ORCID
- May, James M
- Venue
- British Journal of Pharmacology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-11-15
- Volume
- 164
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1793-1801
- ISSN
- 0007-1188 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-5381
- PMC
- PMC3246704
- OpenAlex
- W1601071056
- Cited by
- 108
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- British Journal of Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS 057674, R01NS057674)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
- Keywords
- SVCT1, SVCT2, vitamin C, sodium-dependent transport, Na+/K+-ATPase, epithelial cells, transporter regulation, oxidative stress
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antioxidants, Ascorbic Acid, Humans, Tissue Distribution, Protein Isoforms, Sodium-Coupled Vitamin C Transporters
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