Core Viewpoint - Bile acids (BAs) play a crucial role in nutrient absorption, lipid metabolism, and immune regulation, with their transport and distribution in the body being tightly regulated by specific membrane proteins [2][3]. Group 1: Bile Acid Transport Mechanism - The enterohepatic circulation of bile acids relies on the coordinated action of four key transport proteins: ASBT, OSTα/β, NTCP, and BSEP, which are essential for bile acid uptake and recycling [3]. - OSTα/β, a unique member of the solute carrier (SLC) family, requires assembly of α and β subunits to function and can transport bile acids bidirectionally, unlike other transporters that operate as monomers [3][8]. Group 2: Research Findings - A recent study published in Nature by a team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Peking University revealed the high-resolution cryo-EM structure of the OSTα/β complex, providing insights into its assembly and transport mechanism [4][5]. - The study identified a unique "2+2" heterotetramer assembly of OSTα/β, with tight interactions between α-β and α-α interfaces enhancing the stability of the complex [8]. - The research also discovered a bile acid binding pocket that facilitates the transport process without significant conformational changes, proposing a novel transport mechanism that relies on a half-embedded membrane channel [8].