The major facilitator superfamily domain-containing (MFSD) proteins, members of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), play essential roles in regulating key physiological processes in humans. These transporters are involved in the movement of lipids, ions, and metabolites. Due to their diverse transport functions, MFSD proteins are increasingly viewed as promising therapeutic targets. However, the current body of research is largely fragmented, focusing on individual members in specific contexts, which hinders the identification of common mechanisms and broad therapeutic strategies. Therefore, synthesizing the diverse functions of MFSD proteins and organizing them within a cohesive framework is necessary. This review synthesizes the roles of MFSD proteins in key areas such as lipid transport, neurodevelopment, and cancer, with an emphasis on interpreting their molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight key challenges, such as characterizing unstudied members and elucidating their precise transport functions, and explore the growing potential of MFSD proteins as targets for drug discovery and personalized therapy. By providing a consolidated perspective, this review seeks to clarify the multifaceted roles of MFSD proteins and guide future research toward harnessing their full clinical potential.
Lin et al. (Sun,) studied this question.