SLCO5A1 encodes an organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP5A1) that functions as a sodium-independent transmembrane transporter localized to plasma and basolateral membranes 1. The protein exists as core- and complex-glycosylated forms of ~105 kDa and ~130 kDa, respectively, and is distributed in both intracellular membranes and plasma membrane 1. Unlike classical OATP family members, SLCO5A1 appears to have non-classical functions related to cellular differentiation and migration rather than typical substrate transport 1. The gene shows high expression in mature versus immature dendritic cells and correlates with blood cell differentiation status 1. SLCO5A1 expression inhibits cell proliferation and regulates immunologically relevant genes including CCL20 1. The gene has clinical significance in multiple contexts: haploinsufficiency contributes to mesomelia-synostoses syndrome when co-deleted with SULF1 2, genetic variants show differential associations with prostate cancer aggressiveness between African Americans and European Americans 3, and it serves as a prognostic marker in uveal melanoma 4. In Drosophila, the ortholog Oatp30B is essential for lipid transport and germ cell development, with its human counterpart having prognostic value in ovarian cancer 5.