Identification and functional characterization of uric acid transporter Urat1 (Slc22a12) in rats

► Rat uric acid transporter rUrat1 (Slc22a12) functions at apical membrane in proximal tubular cells. ► Characteristics of rUrat1 are comparable to that of human URAT1 and mouse Rst. ► Some uricosuric and antiuricosuric drugs alter the transport activity of rUrat1.