Functions as a sodium-dependent amino acid transporter. Mediates the saturable, pH-sensitive and electrogenic cotransport of neutral amino acids and sodium ions with a stoichiometry of 1:1. May function in the transport of amino acids at the blood-brain barrier and in the supply of maternal nutrients to the fetus through the placenta. Inhibited by N-methyl-D-glucamine and probably choline. Insulin promotes recruitment to the plasma membrane from a pool localized in the trans-Golgi network or endosomes (By similarity). Enriched in the somatodendritic compartment of neurons, it is also detected at the axonal shaft but excluded from the nerve terminal. Ubiquitously expressed. Widely expressed in the central nervous system with higher concentrations in caudal regions. Expressed by glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons together with astrocytes and other non-neuronal cells in the cerebral cortex (at protein level). Up-regulated upon hypertonic conditions and amino acid deprivation. Polyubiquitination by NEDD4L regulates the degradation and the activity of SLC38A2. Depletion of SCL38A2 by siRNA prevents the recovery of cells from hypertonic stress. Belongs to the amino acid/polyamine transporter 2 family.