urat

Urat, usually encountered as urate, is a term used in chemistry and physiology to denote the salts and esters of uric acid, as well as the urate ion itself. In salts, the urate anion forms compounds with metal cations such as sodium or potassium. In medicine, elevated levels of urate in blood or urine are of clinical interest because of links to gout and kidney stones.

Urate transport and physiology: In humans, urate is filtered by the kidney and largely reabsorbed in the proximal tubule. URAT1, a membrane transporter encoded by the SLC22A12 gene, is a key mediator of urate reabsorption. Other transporters such as OAT4 and GLUT9 participate in its handling. Genetic variants affecting URAT1 function can alter serum urate levels and gout risk. Urate-lowering therapies sometimes target URAT1 to increase urate excretion; probenecid is a classic URAT1 inhibitor.

In broader usage, URAT is also used as an acronym in scientific literature to denote urate transporters or related proteins, though URAT1 is the best-known example. The term urate and its salts are central to studies of purine metabolism, diuretic action, and metabolic disorders.