Project: SLC16A11

The T2D-associated gene SLC16A11 increases risk of T2D by ~30% in Latino populations. It encodes a monocarboxylate transporter. Members of the Florez group have characterized its transport function, verified that non-coding variants in the T2D risk haplotype reduce expression of SLC16A11 in hepatocytes, coding variants in the same haplotype impair its interaction with the chaperone protein basigin, and both effects decrease its presence in the plasma membrane. This leads to the accumulation of T2D-relevant metabolites [Rusu, Hoch Cell paper]

Functional Characterization