InterPro domain: IPR029946

Twelve members of the nucleobase-ascorbate transporter (NAT) gene family have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. The plant NAT proteins can be split into five clades based on protein multiple sequence alignments [ 1 ]. NAT12 from Arabidopsis possesses a highly hydrophilic N-terminal extension of about 120-130 amino acid residues that could serve as an organellar targeting sequence, although preliminary studies indicate that NAT12 is localised to the plasma membrane rather than to plastids [ 2 ]. NAT12 may act as a proton-nucleobase symporter [ 2 ].

1. Identification and expression analysis of twelve members of the nucleobase-ascorbate transporter (NAT) gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell Physiol. 47, 1381-93
2. Biochemical characterization and structure-function relationship of two plant NCS2 proteins, the nucleobase transporters NAT3 and NAT12 from Arabidopsis thaliana. Biochim. Biophys. Acta