ABSTRACT
Heteromeric amino acid transporters (HATs) play essential roles in the transport of amino acids, thyroid hormones, and various amino acid–like drugs. Mutations in HATs are associated with several inherited disorders, including cystinuria, lysinuric protein intolerance, and autism spectrum disorders. In recent years, numerous small molecule compounds targeting HATs have been developed for the treatment of cancer, inflammatory diseases, and phenylketonuria. We have employed cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) in combination with biochemical assays to determine multiple conformational states of HATs, providing mechanistic insights into their assembly and transport processes. These findings advance our understanding of HAT function and offer a structural framework for the rational design of targeted therapeutics.

BIOGRAPHY 

Renhong Yan is an Associate Professor and PhD Supervisor at the School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). He joined SUSTech in November 2021 and established his independent research group.

Since the beginning of his academic career, Dr. Yan has been dedicated to investigating the structural and functional mechanisms of various amino acid transporters and their roles in drug discovery. He has made pioneering contributions to elucidating the assembly and working mechanisms of heteromeric amino acid transporters, including LAT1-4F2hc and ACE2-B⁰AT1. To date, Dr. Yan has published over 40 high-quality SCI-indexed research articles, including 1 in Cell, 2 in Nature, and 3 in Science. His work has been cited more than 10,000 times according to Google Scholar. From 2022 to 2025, he has been consecutively recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in China by Elsevier.