Identification of yeast and human 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAr) transporters.

5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAr) is the precursor of the active monophosphate form (AICAR), a small molecule with potent anti-proliferative and low energy mimetic properties. The molecular bases for AICAR toxicity at the cellular level are poorly understood. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of several yeast AICAr-hypersensitive mutants.