The SLC25A31 gene helps move the cell’s main energy molecules in and out of mitochondria, the parts of cells that make usable energy. This gene plays an important role in sperm development, where cells need a steady energy supply to mature and move well. If the SLC25A31 gene does not work properly, sperm may not develop or function as expected. In some people, that can contribute to male infertility.
What is a gene?
A gene is a stretch of DNA that carries instructions your cells use to make molecules or direct activities in the body. Some genes hold the instructions for producing proteins, the parts of cells that do much of the work. Other genes mainly regulate when certain processes happen, where they happen, and how strongly they operate. Altogether, genes affect how the body develops and works, and they can influence how you respond to food, stress, or medications. More detail on this topic is available in the LearnHub.
Overview
SLC25A31Gene function
What if the gene works
The SLC25A31 gene helps move energy molecules into and out of mitochondria, the parts of cells that make usable energy. It is especially active in the testes and supports normal sperm development.
Risk
What if the gene does not work
Milder or more severe variants in the SLC25A31 gene can reduce how well mitochondria swap ATP and ADP, especially in developing sperm cells. This can weaken cellular energy handling and related mitochondrial processes.
Treatment
What does that mean for your treatment
No treatment or management approach tied to the SLC25A31 gene is currently established. Current care is based on the person’s clinical findings rather than the SLC25A31 gene itself. The SLC25A31 gene is being studied in male fertility and as a possible cancer biomarker, but this has not changed routine treatment.
Gene function
What if the gene works
Your cells need a steady way to move energy in and out of mitochondria, the structures that make most ATP, the cell's usable energy. In your body, the SLC25A31 gene helps with this exchange and is most active in cells that make sperm. This supports the high energy demands of normal sperm formation and movement.
The SLC25A31 gene helps move ATP out of mitochondria and brings ADP, the used form, back in. This swap lets cells use fresh energy while mitochondria recharge their supply.
Its protein sits in the inner membrane of mitochondria and swaps ATP and ADP across that barrier. That controlled movement links the cell's power source to the places where energy is used.
This gene is especially active during sperm development, when cells need a lot of energy. It helps support sperm energy production by shuttling ATP and ADP in a steady cycle.
What is a variant?
A genetic variant is a minor difference in the DNA sequence within a gene. These differences are common and are part of normal human diversity, including variation in appearance, metabolism, and the way the body responds to environmental influences. Many variants do not have any noticeable effect and are simply a natural part of genetic variation. Sometimes, though, a variant changes how a gene works to a greater extent and can contribute to or cause a genetic condition.
Genetic variants
What if the gene does not work
Variants in the SLC25A31 gene can change the protein’s shape, stability, or placement in the inner membrane of mitochondria, which helps explain how variants in the SLC25A31 gene affect protein function. Some variants mildly reduce transport activity, while more severe variants can greatly lower protein levels, block proper folding, or stop the carrier from working at all. This range of change can lead to anything from partial loss of activity to near complete loss of function at the cellular level.
How variants are linked to conditions
The SLC25A31 gene does not yet have a broadly confirmed link to a specific health condition, although research on variants in the SLC25A31 gene is still developing. Anyone with a confirmed SLC25A31-related diagnosis should rely on guidance from their doctor or genetic counselor rather than general information.
A variant is not necessarily a diagnosis
Variants in genes are a routine part of human biology and are widely found across the general population. Most do not directly affect health and simply contribute to normal human variation. For many genes, having a variant associated with a condition points to a possible link rather than a certain diagnosis, particularly when several genes and environmental influences play a role. In some situations, though, one well-understood variant in a particular gene is enough to confirm a diagnosis.
Are there things that can increase or change my risk?
There isn't yet broadly confirmed evidence on specific factors that increase or reduce health risk related to the SLC25A31 gene. If SLC25A31 is part of your test results and you want to understand what it may mean for you or your family, speaking with a doctor or genetic counselor can help put it in context.
Inheritance of SLC25A31 variants
There is not yet a broadly confirmed, disease-specific Mendelian pattern for how SLC25A31 gene variants are inherited. Research has explored this gene in areas such as male fertility, but no single inheritance pattern is established enough to present as the answer for how SLC25A31 gene variants are inherited. The SLC25A31 gene is located on chromosome 4, which is an autosome, so you inherit one copy from each parent.
What does my SLC25A31 result mean for my family?
There is not yet a broadly confirmed inheritance pattern tied to a specific health condition for SLC25A31, and research on this gene is still developing. If you have a specific SLC25A31 result and want to understand what it could mean for relatives, genetics specialists can explain it in the context of your family history and the exact variant found.
Genetic information
Genetic testing
How you find out about variants
Finding out whether you carry a variant in the SLC25A31 gene usually involves SLC25A31 genetic testing, using a blood or saliva sample. A lab reads the gene’s DNA code and checks for changes, often as part of a larger panel or exome test.
When should I consider getting a genetic test?
There is not yet a broadly established, SLC25A31-specific clinical reason for testing. Genetic testing decisions are usually based on the bigger picture, including fertility concerns, personal health history, and family history, together with a doctor or genetic counselor.
A genetic result is only one part of your health story
Genetic findings can provide useful insight, but how much they reveal varies with the condition and the kind of variant involved. Many factors, including lifestyle, environment, age, and medical history, also shape how the body works over time. In some conditions, especially those influenced by many genes, genetic information provides context rather than certainty and is most useful when considered alongside other parts of care. In other situations, a genetic result can give a clear answer. In areas like medication response, genetic results can also help put personal experiences into perspective.
Pharmacogenetics
How variants shape your response to medicine
Genetic variation can affect how people respond to medicines. A treatment that works well for one person may work less well for another, or may cause more side effects, because each body absorbs, breaks down, and uses drugs a little differently. These inherited differences are common and can influence how strongly a medicine works or how sensitive someone is to it. Medication response also depends on other factors, including age, kidney and liver function, other medicines, and overall health.
What is Pharmacogenetics?
Pharmacogenetics examines how genetic differences can shape a person’s response to medications. By looking at relationships between genes and drugs, it helps explain why the same treatment may work differently from one person to another. For many medicines, genes influence both how strongly a drug works and how the body processes it. This information can support treatment decisions that are more informed and more individualized. If you want to explore this subject further, you can learn more in the LearnHub.
Drugs influenced by the SLC25A31 gene
When should I seek medical advice?
There is not yet a broadly confirmed role for this gene in guiding medication response, so any questions about medicines, side effects, or changes in your health are best discussed with your doctor.