SLC35A5 is a Golgi-resident nucleotide sugar transporter that mediates the uptake of UDP-glucuronic acid, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, and UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine from the cytosol into the Golgi lumen 1. The protein localizes exclusively to the Golgi apparatus with its C-terminus directed toward the cytosol and contains distinctive acidic motifs (DXEE, DXD, DXXD) characteristic of nucleotide sugar transporters 1. SLC35A5 functions as both a homomer and heteromer within the SLC35A protein subfamily, interacting specifically with SLC35A4 to modulate intracellular trafficking of other SLC35 complexes 2. Beyond its canonical role in nucleotide sugar transport, SLC35A5 expression influences cellular susceptibility to paclitaxel chemotherapy, with knockdown studies demonstrating increased drug sensitivity; multivariate modeling showed SLC35A5 together with three other SLC genes explained 20% of observed paclitaxel susceptibility variability 3. SLC35A5 expression is also regulated by ornithine decarboxylase 1 under glucotoxic conditions relevant to type 2 diabetes 4. While SLC35A5 knockout does not significantly affect N-glycosylation, O-glycosylation, or glycolipid synthesis, it increases chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan levels 1, suggesting specialized roles in glycosaminoglycan metabolism and potentially broader metabolic adaptation pathways.