Mouse Organic Anion Transporter 2 (mOat2) Mediates the Transport of Short Chain Fatty Acid Propionate

In this study, we have elucidated that propionate, one of the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), is the transport substrate for murine organic anion transporter 2 (mOat2), which is expressed in the kidneys and the liver. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, mOat2-mediated [(3)H]PGE(2) transport was inhibited by three- to five-carbon SCFAs (C3 to C5). Among the SCFAs tested, propionate (3-carbon SCFA) was transported by mOat2 in a time-dependent manner. Since propionate is a potent glucogenic compound, Oat2 may be involved in the regulation of cellular metabolism through the transport of these metabolites in the kidneys and the liver.