Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40140416›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Structural insights into thyroid hormone transporter MCT8.

Jiaxin Tan, Yuan Xiao, Fang Kong, Jiawei Qian, Angqi Zhu, Chuangye Yan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. ExaminingFrontiers in toxicology · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jiaxin Tan *Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
Yuan Xiao *Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
Fang Kong *Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8788-722X
Jiawei QianBeijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
Angqi ZhuBeijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3162-441X
Chuangye YanBeijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China. yancy2019@tsinghua.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9338-8048

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32171204
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Thyroid hormones (THs), including T4 (3,5,3',5'-tetraiodo-L-thyronine) and T3 (3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine), play critical roles in regulating tissue development and basal metabolism. Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) is a key player in TH transport, known for its high specificity and affinity for THs and its direct association with Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) caused by pathogenic mutations. In this study, we present the cryo-EM structures of human MCT8 bound to the substrate T3 or the inhibitor silychristin, both in an outward-open conformation at resolutions of 3.0-3.2 Å. MCT8 forms a homodimer with a lipid molecule positioned at the dimerization interface. The carboxyl group of T3 is recognized by Arg371, while its three iodine atoms interact with distinct hydrophobic cavities. Silychristin is also recognized by Arg371, competing with T3 for binding. Complemented by structure-guided biochemical analyses, our research elucidates the mechanisms of substrate recognition and transport, as well as the mode of action of the inhibitor silychristin. These findings may offer insights for developing targeted therapies for TH-related disorders.

Indexed as

Monocarboxylic Acid TransportersThyroid HormonesTriiodothyronineCryoelectron MicroscopyHumansModels, MolecularMuscle HypotoniaMuscular AtrophyProtein BindingProtein ConformationProtein MultimerizationSymportersX-Linked Intellectual DisabilityMonocarboxylic Acid TransportersSLC16A2 protein, humanSymportersThyroid HormonesTriiodothyronine

Identifiers

PMID40140416
PMCPMC11947448

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.