SLCO4C1

Mediates the transport of organic anions such as steroids (estrone 3-sulfate, chenodeoxycholate, glycocholate) and thyroid hormones (3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), L-thyroxine (T4)), in the kidney (PubMed:14993604, PubMed:19129463, PubMed:20610891). Capable of transporting cAMP and pharmacological substances such as digoxin, ouabain and methotrexate (PubMed:14993604). Transport is independent of sodium, chloride ion, and ATP (PubMed:14993604). Transport activity is stimulated by an acidic extracellular environment due to increased substrate affinity to the transporter (PubMed:19129463). The driving force for this transport activity is currently not known (By similarity). The role of hydrogencarbonate (HCO3(-), bicarbonate) as the probable counteranion that exchanges for organic anions is still not well defined (PubMed:19129463). Functions as an uptake transporter at the apical membrane, suggesting a role in renal reabsorption (By similarity). Involved in the renal secretion of the uremic toxin ADMA (N(omega),N(omega)-dimethyl-L-arginine or asymmetrical dimethylarginine), which is associated to cardiovascular events and mortality, and the structurally related amino acids L-arginine and L-homoarginine (a cardioprotective biomarker) (PubMed:30865704). Can act bidirectionally, suggesting a dual protective role of this transport protein; exporting L-homoarginine after being synthesized in proximal tubule cells, and mediating uptake of ADMA from the blood into proximal tubule cells where it is degraded by the enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) (PubMed:30865704, PubMed:32642843). May be involved in sperm maturation by enabling directed movement of organic anions and compounds within or between cells (By similarity). This ion-transporting process is important to maintain the strict epididymal homeostasis necessary for sperm maturation (By similarity). May have a role in secretory functions since seminal vesicle epithelial cells are assumed to secrete proteins involved in decapacitation by modifying surface proteins to facilitate the acquisition of the ability to fertilize the egg (By similarity).