Cl- absorption and HCO3- secretion are intimately associatedprocesses vital to epithelial function, itself a key physiologicalactivity. Until recently the transporters responsible remainedobscure, but a breakthrough occurred with the discovery of theSLC26 transporters family. It is now clear that the SLC26transporters have broad physiological functions since mutations inseveral members are linked to a variety of diseases. This bookdescribes the properties of this family in detail, withcontributions from the leading global researchers in the field.Complementary views from experts on other ion channels are offeredin the discussions, which make fascinating reading.This family consists of at least 10 genes, each of which hasseveral splice variants. Most members of the family are expressedin the luminal membrane of epithelial cells. Characterization ofanion transport by three members has revealed that all function asCl-/HCO3- exchangers, suggesting that SLC26 transporters areresponsible for the luminal Cl-/HCO3- exchange activity. The SLC26transporters are activated by the CF transmembrane conductanceregulator and activate it in turn, leading to a model in whichthese molecules act together to mediate epithelial Cl- absorptionand HCO3- secretion.The book includes chapters on the transport of other molecules bythe SLC26 family, including oxalate in the kidney and sugars incochlear hair cells amongst others. It also describes recentdiscoveries that most SLC26 transporters bind to scaffold proteinsand that they all contain a conserved domain predicted toparticipate in protein-protein interactions. These suggest theSLC26 transporters exist in complexes with other Cl- and HCO3-transporters, and possibly other regulatory proteins. This bookexplores the functional role of these interactions, leading tobetter understanding of transepithelial fluid and electrolytesecretion and the diseases associated with it.

Chair's introduction (MichaelWelsh).Overview of the SLC26 family and associated diseases(Juha Kere) .Discussion.Individual characteristics of members of the SLC26 family inVertebrates and their homologues in insects (MarliesKnipper, Thomas Weber, Harald Winter, Claudia Braig, JelkaCimerman, Juergen T. Fraenzer and UlrikeZimmermann).Discussion.Sulfate transport by SLC26 transporters (DanielMarkovich).Sugar transport by members of the SLC26 superfamily(Jonathan Ashmore and Jean-MarieChambard).Discussion.Discussion.SLC26A3 and congenital chloride diarrhoea (PiaHöglund).Discussion.Expression, regulation and the role of SLC26 Cl-/HCO3-exchangers in kidney and gastrointestinal tract (ManoocherSoleimani).Discussion.Anion exchangers in flux: functional differences betweenhuman and mouse SLC26A6 polypeptides (Seth L. Alper, AndrewK. Stewart, Marina N. Chernova,Alexander S. Zolotarev, Jeffrey S.Clark and David H. Vandorpe).Discussion.Physiology of electrogenic SLC26 paralogues (MichaelF. Romero, Min-Hwang Chang, Consuelo Plata,Kambiz Zandi-Nejad,Vadjista Broumand, Caroline R. Sussman and David B.Mount).Discussion.Role of SLC26-mediated Cl-/base exchange in proximal tubulenaCl transport (Peter S. Aronson).Discussion.SLC26 transporters and the inhibitory control of pancreaticductal bicarbonate secretion (Péter Hegyi, ZoltánRakonczay Jr., László Tiszlavica, AndrásVarró,András Tóth, Gábor Rácz, GáborVarga, Michael A. Gray and Barry E. Argent).Discussion.Regulatory interaction between CFtR and the SLC26transporters (Nikolay Shcheynikov, Shigeru B. H. Ko,Weizhong Zeng, Joo Young Choi, Michael R. Dorwart, Philip J. Thomasand Shmuel Muallem).Discussion.Insights from a transgenic mouse model on the role of SLC26A2in health and disease.Discussion.Lorraine A. Everett new insights into the role of pendrin(SLC26A4) in inner ear fluid homeostasis (Antonella Forlino,Benedetta Gualeni, Fabio Pecora, Sara Della Torre,Rocco Piazza,Cecilia Tiveron, Laura Tatangelo, Andrea Superti-Furga, GiuseppeCetta and Antonio Rossi).Discussion.the renal physiology of pendrin (SLC26A4) and its role inhypertension (Susan M. Wall).Discussion.Interaction of prestin (SLC26A5) with monovalentintracellular anions (Dominik Oliver, ThorstenSchächinger and Bernd Fakler).Discussion.Final Discussion.Index of contributors.Subject index.