The membrane transporter SLC25A48 enables transport of choline into human mitochondria

Patil S, Borisov O, Scherer N, Wirth C, Schlosser P, Wuttke M, Ehret S, Hannibal L, Eckardt K-U, Hunte C, Neubauer B, Köttgen A, Köttgen M.

Kidney Int. 2025; doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2024.06.022.

Choline is a precursor of signaling molecules including phospholipids and acetylcholine. Its transport across membranes is poorly understood. Here we show that SLC25A48 is a human mitochondrial choline transporter. SLC25A48 mutations in humans are associated with elevated choline in body fluids.