Mitochondrial basic amino acids transporter

Mitochondrial transporter of arginine, lysine, homoarginine, methylarginine and, to a much lesser extent, ornithine and histidine. Does not transport carnitine nor acylcarnitines. Functions by both counter-exchange and uniport mechanisms. Plays a physiolocical role in the import of basic amino acids into mitochondria for mitochondrial protein synthesis and amino acid degradation.