ABCA10

ABCA10 Full Name

ATP-binding cassette, sub-family A (ABC1), member 10

ABCA10 Introduction

ATP-binding cassette sub-family A member 10 (ABCA10) is a transmembrane protein belonging to the highly conserved ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily. Specifically, it is part of the ABCA6-like transporter gene cluster located on human chromosome 17q24.3. Similar to its closely related family members, ABCA10 is characterized by multiple transmembrane domains that form a central transport channel and intracellular nucleotide-binding domains that utilize the energy from ATP hydrolysis to actively translocate substrates across cellular membranes. While it shares structural homology with the well-known cholesterol efflux pump ABCA1, ABCA10 exhibits a distinct tissue distribution, being predominantly expressed in the heart, skeletal muscle, brain, and specialized immune cells such as macrophages.

Figure 1. Schematic structure of the ABCA10 protein and polypeptide variants predicted by the alternative transcripts ABCA10Δ+82 and ABCA10Δ-176, respectively. (Source: Wenzel JJ, et al. 2003)

Functionally, ABCA10 is heavily implicated in cellular lipid homeostasis and membrane lipid transport. In macrophages, its expression is highly responsive to cellular cholesterol loading and is transcriptionally regulated by sterol-sensitive mechanisms, indicating an active role in intracellular lipid trafficking or efflux pathways. Although its precise transport substrates remain less definitively characterized than those of ABCA1, emerging biochemical evidence suggests that ABCA10 facilitates the movement of specific phospholipid species or cholesterol derivatives across the plasma membrane or intracellular organelle membranes. This transport activity is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of cellular membranes, modulating lipid-raft-dependent signaling pathways, and preventing the toxic intracellular accumulation of lipid metabolites.

Clinically, the dysregulation of ABCA10 is increasingly recognized for its involvement in complex metabolic and proliferative diseases. Because of its active role in macrophage lipid handling, impaired ABCA10 function can contribute to the formation of lipid-laden foam cells, a hallmark of early atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, aberrant expression of ABCA10 has been observed in various human malignancies. In certain cancers, such as ovarian and breast carcinomas, ABCA10 is frequently downregulated, suggesting it may possess tumor-suppressive properties tied to its regulation of lipid metabolism and cell growth signaling. Additionally, given its significant expression in the central nervous system, researchers are actively investigating the potential connection between ABCA10-mediated lipid dysregulation and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, making it a molecule of growing diagnostic and therapeutic interest.

Alternate Names for ABCA10

ABCA10; ATP-binding cassette, sub-family A (ABC1), member 10; EST698739; ATP-binding cassette sub-family A member 10; ATP-binding cassette A10;

View more

• 1. Wenzel JJ, et al. ABCA10, a novel cholesterol-regulated ABCA6-like ABC transporter. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Jul 11;306(4):1089-98.
  2. Kaminski WE, et al. Identification of a novel human sterol-sensitive ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCA7). Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2000 Jul 5;273(2):532-8.