SLC7A8, also called l-type amino acid transporter 2 (LAT2), forms a heterodimeric complex with the heavy chain of the cell surface antigen SLC3A2 (4F2hc/CD98). It transports neutral amino acids, most of which are essential amino acids. l-Dopa, which is commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease, can enter the brain as either the SLC7A8 (LAT2)/SLC3A2 complex or as its homologue the SLC7A7 (LAT1)/SLC3A2 complex. Furthermore, SLC7A8 is highly expressed in the epithelial proximal tubule cells in the kidney; this suggests its role in renal reabsorption of neutral amino acids.