The protein encoded by SLC25A12, Aralar1, is a mitochondrial calcium-binding carrier that facilitates the calcium-dependent exchange of cytoplasmic glutamate with mitochondrial aspartate across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Aralar binds to one calcium ion with high affinity. Upon calcium binding, the EF-hand-containing regulatory N-terminal domain binds to the C-terminal domain, opening a vestibule which allows the substrates to be translocated through the carrier domain. In the absence of calcium, the linker loop domain may close the vestibule, which may prevent substrates from entering the carrier domain.[13] As a member of the malate-aspartate NADHshuttle, Aralar is also involved in the transfer of cytosolic reducing equivalents from the cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix.[14] Aralar, along with the protein encoded by SLC25A13, are both calcium-binding aspartate/glutamate carriers which are substrates in the TIMM8A/TIMM13complex.
Mutations in the SLC25A12 gene cause early infantile epileptic encephalopathy 39(EIEE39), characterized by refractory seizures, neurodevelopmental impairment, and poor prognosis. Development is normal prior to seizure onset, after which cognitive and motor delays become apparent. EIEE39 is characterized by global hypomyelination of the central nervous system, with the gray matter appearing relatively unaffected. Inheritance is autosomal recessive.[5][6]
↑del Arco A, Satrústegui J (September 1998). "Molecular cloning of Aralar, a new member of the mitochondrial carrier superfamily that binds calcium and is present in human muscle and brain". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 273 (36): 23327–34. doi:10.1074/jbc.273.36.23327. PMID9722566.
↑Crackower MA, Sinasac DS, Lee JR, Herbrick JA, Tsui LC, Scherer SW (Apr 2000). "Assignment of the SLC25A12 gene coding for the human calcium-binding mitochondrial solute carrier protein aralar to human chromosome 2q24". Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics. 87 (3–4): 197–8. doi:10.1159/000015465. PMID10702666.
↑ 7.07.1Segurado R, Conroy J, Meally E, Fitzgerald M, Gill M, Gallagher L (November 2005). "Confirmation of association between autism and the mitochondrial aspartate/glutamate carrier SLC25A12 gene on chromosome 2q31". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 162 (11): 2182–4. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.162.11.2182. hdl:2262/34993. PMID16263864.
↑ 8.08.1Lepagnol-Bestel AM, Maussion G, Boda B, Cardona A, Iwayama Y, Delezoide AL, Moalic JM, Muller D, Dean B, Yoshikawa T, Gorwood P, Buxbaum JD, Ramoz N, Simonneau M (April 2008). "SLC25A12 expression is associated with neurite outgrowth and is upregulated in the prefrontal cortex of autistic subjects". Molecular Psychiatry. 13 (4): 385–97. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4002120. PMID18180767.
↑ 11.011.1del Arco A, Satrústegui J (September 1998). "Molecular cloning of Aralar, a new member of the mitochondrial carrier superfamily that binds calcium and is present in human muscle and brain". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 273 (36): 23327–34. PMID9722566.
↑ 12.012.1Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, OMIM®. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. MIM Number: {603667}: {08/01/2016}: . World Wide Web URL: https://omim.org/
↑Jalil MA, Begum L, Contreras L, Pardo B, Iijima M, Li MX, Ramos M, Marmol P, Horiuchi M, Shimotsu K, Nakagawa S, Okubo A, Sameshima M, Isashiki Y, Del Arco A, Kobayashi K, Satrústegui J, Saheki T (September 2005). "Reduced N-acetylaspartate levels in mice lacking aralar, a brain- and muscle-type mitochondrial aspartate-glutamate carrier". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 280 (35): 31333–9. doi:10.1074/jbc.M505286200. PMID15987682.
Kobayashi K, Sinasac DS, Iijima M, Boright AP, Begum L, Lee JR, Yasuda T, Ikeda S, Hirano R, Terazono H, Crackower MA, Kondo I, Tsui LC, Scherer SW, Saheki T (June 1999). "The gene mutated in adult-onset type II citrullinaemia encodes a putative mitochondrial carrier protein". Nature Genetics. 22 (2): 159–63. doi:10.1038/9667. PMID10369257.
Sanz R, del Arco A, Ayuso C, Ramos C, Satrústegui J (2000). "Assignment of the calcium-binding mitochondrial carrier Aralar1 gene (SLC25A12) to human chromosome band 2q31 by in situ hybridization". Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics. 89 (3–4): 143–4. doi:10.1159/000015595. PMID10965105.
Ramoz N, Reichert JG, Smith CJ, Silverman JM, Bespalova IN, Davis KL, Buxbaum JD (April 2004). "Linkage and association of the mitochondrial aspartate/glutamate carrier SLC25A12 gene with autism". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 161 (4): 662–9. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.161.4.662. PMID15056512.
Rubi B, del Arco A, Bartley C, Satrustegui J, Maechler P (December 2004). "The malate-aspartate NADH shuttle member Aralar1 determines glucose metabolic fate, mitochondrial activity, and insulin secretion in beta cells". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 279 (53): 55659–66. doi:10.1074/jbc.M409303200. PMID15494407.
Rabionet R, McCauley JL, Jaworski JM, Ashley-Koch AE, Martin ER, Sutcliffe JS, Haines JL, DeLong GR, Abramson RK, Wright HH, Cuccaro ML, Gilbert JR, Pericak-Vance MA (May 2006). "Lack of association between autism and SLC25A12". The American Journal of Psychiatry. 163 (5): 929–31. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.163.5.929. PMID16648338.
Ewing RM, Chu P, Elisma F, Li H, Taylor P, Climie S, McBroom-Cerajewski L, Robinson MD, O'Connor L, Li M, Taylor R, Dharsee M, Ho Y, Heilbut A, Moore L, Zhang S, Ornatsky O, Bukhman YV, Ethier M, Sheng Y, Vasilescu J, Abu-Farha M, Lambert JP, Duewel HS, Stewart II, Kuehl B, Hogue K, Colwill K, Gladwish K, Muskat B, Kinach R, Adams SL, Moran MF, Morin GB, Topaloglou T, Figeys D (2007). "Large-scale mapping of human protein-protein interactions by mass spectrometry". Molecular Systems Biology. 3 (1): 89. doi:10.1038/msb4100134. PMC1847948. PMID17353931.
Hong CJ, Liou YJ, Liao DL, Hou SJ, Yen FC, Tsai SJ (October 2007). "Association study of polymorphisms in the mitochondrial aspartate/glutamate carrier SLC25A12 (aralar) gene with schizophrenia". Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry. 31 (7): 1510–3. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2007.07.010. PMID17693006.