1
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Pyrris Y, Papadaki GF, Mikros E, Diallinas G. The last two transmembrane helices in the APC-type FurE transporter act as an intramolecular chaperone essential for concentrative ER-exit. MICROBIAL CELL (GRAZ, AUSTRIA) 2024; 11:1-15. [PMID: 38225947 PMCID: PMC10788122 DOI: 10.15698/mic2024.01.811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
FurE is a H+ symporter specific for the cellular uptake of uric acid, allantoin, uracil, and toxic nucleobase analogues in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Being member of the NCS1 protein family, FurE is structurally related to the APC-superfamily of transporters. APC-type transporters are characterised by a 5+5 inverted repeat fold made of ten transmembrane segments (TMS1-10) and function through the rocking-bundle mechanism. Most APC-type transporters possess two extra C-terminal TMS segments (TMS11-12), the function of which remains elusive. Here we present a systematic mutational analysis of TMS11-12 of FurE and show that two specific aromatic residues in TMS12, Trp473 and Tyr484, are essential for ER-exit and trafficking to the plasma membrane (PM). Molecular modeling shows that Trp473 and Tyr484 might be essential through dynamic interactions with residues in TMS2 (Leu91), TMS3 (Phe111), TMS10 (Val404, Asp406) and other aromatic residues in TMS12. Genetic analysis confirms the essential role of Phe111, Asp406 and TMS12 aromatic residues in FurE ER-exit. We further show that co-expression of FurE-Y484F or FurE-W473A with wild-type FurE leads to a dominant negative phenotype, compatible with the concept that FurE molecules oligomerize or partition in specific microdomains to achieve concentrative ER-exit and traffic to the PM. Importantly, truncated FurE versions lacking TMS11-12 are unable to reproduce a negative effect on the trafficking of co-expressed wild-type FurE. Overall, we show that TMS11-12 acts as an intramolecular chaperone for proper FurE folding, which seems to provide a structural code for FurE partitioning in ER-exit sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiannis Pyrris
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Georgia F. Papadaki
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Emmanuel Mikros
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, 15771, Greece
| | - George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, 15784, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, 70013, Greece
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2
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Georgiou X, Dimou S, Diallinas G, Samiotaki M. The interactome of the UapA transporter reveals putative new players in anterograde membrane cargo trafficking. Fungal Genet Biol 2023; 169:103840. [PMID: 37730157 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2023.103840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Neosynthesized plasma membrane (PM) proteins co-translationally translocate to the ER, concentrate at regions called ER-exit sites (ERes) and pack into COPII secretory vesicles which are sorted to the early-Golgi through membrane fusion. Following Golgi maturation, membrane cargoes reach the late-Golgi, from where they exit in clathrin-coated vesicles destined to the PM, directly or through endosomes. Post-Golgi membrane cargo trafficking also involves the cytoskeleton and the exocyst. The Golgi-dependent secretory pathway is thought to be responsible for the trafficking of all major membrane proteins. However, our recent findings in Aspergillus nidulans showed that several plasma membrane cargoes, such as transporters and receptors, follow a sorting route that seems to bypass Golgi functioning. To gain insight on membrane trafficking and specifically Golgi-bypass, here we used proximity dependent biotinylation (PDB) coupled with data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) for identifying transient interactors of the UapA transporter. Our assays, which included proteomes of wild-type and mutant strains affecting ER-exit or endocytosis, identified both expected and novel interactions that might be physiologically relevant to UapA trafficking. Among those, we validated, using reverse genetics and fluorescence microscopy, that COPI coatomer is essential for ER-exit and anterograde trafficking of UapA and other membrane cargoes. We also showed that ArfAArf1 GTPase activating protein (GAP) Glo3 contributes to UapA trafficking at increased temperature. This is the first report addressing the identification of transient interactions during membrane cargo biogenesis using PDB and proteomics coupled with fungal genetics. Our work provides a basis for dissecting dynamic membrane cargo trafficking via PDB assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenia Georgiou
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens 15784, Greece
| | - Sofia Dimou
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens 15784, Greece
| | - George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens 15784, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion 70013, Greece.
| | - Martina Samiotaki
- Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Institute for Bioinnovation, Vari 16672, Greece.
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3
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Zantza I, Pyrris Y, Raniolo S, Papadaki GF, Lambrinidis G, Limongelli V, Diallinas G, Mikros E. Uracil/H + Symport by FurE Refines Aspects of the Rocking-bundle Mechanism of APC-type Transporters. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168226. [PMID: 37544358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Transporters mediate the uptake of solutes, metabolites and drugs across the cell membrane. The eukaryotic FurE nucleobase/H+ symporter of Aspergillus nidulans has been used as a model protein to address structure-function relationships in the APC transporter superfamily, members of which are characterized by the LeuT-fold and seem to operate by the so-called 'rocking-bundle' mechanism. In this study, we reveal the binding mode, translocation and release pathway of uracil/H+ by FurE using path collective variable, funnel metadynamics and rational mutational analysis. Our study reveals a stepwise, induced-fit, mechanism of ordered sequential transport of proton and uracil, which in turn suggests that FurE, functions as a multi-step gated pore, rather than employing 'rocking' of compact domains, as often proposed for APC transporters. Finally, our work supports that specific residues of the cytoplasmic N-tail are involved in substrate translocation, in line with their essentiality for FurE function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliana Zantza
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15771, Greece.
| | - Yiannis Pyrris
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15781, Greece.
| | - Stefano Raniolo
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Euler Institute, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano 6900, Switzerland.
| | - Georgia F Papadaki
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15781, Greece
| | - George Lambrinidis
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15771, Greece.
| | - Vittorio Limongelli
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Euler Institute, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Lugano 6900, Switzerland; Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples 80131, Italy.
| | - George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15781, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion 70013, Greece.
| | - Emmanuel Mikros
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15771, Greece; Athena Research and Innovation Center in Information Communication & Knowledge Technologies, Marousi 15125, Greece.
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4
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Sanguinetti M, Silva Santos LH, Dourron J, Alamón C, Idiarte J, Amillis S, Pantano S, Ramón A. Substrate Recognition Properties from an Intermediate Structural State of the UreA Transporter. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:16039. [PMID: 36555682 PMCID: PMC9783183 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Through a combination of comparative modeling, site-directed and classical random mutagenesis approaches, we previously identified critical residues for binding, recognition, and translocation of urea, and its inhibition by 2-thiourea and acetamide in the Aspergillus nidulans urea transporter, UreA. To deepen the structural characterization of UreA, we employed the artificial intelligence (AI) based AlphaFold2 (AF2) program. In this analysis, the resulting AF2 models lacked inward- and outward-facing cavities, suggesting a structural intermediate state of UreA. Moreover, the orientation of the W82, W84, N279, and T282 side chains showed a large variability, which in the case of W82 and W84, may operate as a gating mechanism in the ligand pathway. To test this hypothesis non-conservative and conservative substitutions of these amino acids were introduced, and binding and transport assessed for urea and its toxic analogue 2-thiourea, as well as binding of the structural analogue acetamide. As a result, residues W82, W84, N279, and T282 were implicated in substrate identification, selection, and translocation. Using molecular docking with Autodock Vina with flexible side chains, we corroborated the AF2 theoretical intermediate model, showing a remarkable correlation between docking scores and experimental affinities determined in wild-type and UreA mutants. The combination of AI-based modeling with classical docking, validated by comprehensive mutational analysis at the binding region, would suggest an unforeseen option to determine structural level details on a challenging family of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Sanguinetti
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | | | - Juliette Dourron
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Catalina Alamón
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Juan Idiarte
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sotiris Amillis
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Sergio Pantano
- Biomolecular Simulations Group, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Ana Ramón
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
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5
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Dimakis D, Pyrris Y, Diallinas G. Transmembrane helices 5 and 12 control transport dynamics, substrate affinity, and specificity in the elevator-type UapA transporter. Genetics 2022; 222:6650625. [PMID: 35894659 PMCID: PMC9434233 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of solute transporters have been shown to function with the so-called sliding-elevator mechanism. Despite structural and functional differences, all elevator-type transporters use a common mechanism of substrate translocation via reversible movements of a mobile core domain (the elevator) hosting the substrate binding site along a rigid scaffold domain stably anchored in the plasma membrane via homodimerization. One of the best-studied elevator transporters is the UapA uric acid-xanthine/H+ symporter of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we present a genetic analysis for deciphering the role of transmembrane segments (TMS) 5 and 12 in UapA transport function. We show that specific residues in both TMS5 and TMS12 control, negatively or positively, the dynamics of transport, but also substrate binding affinity and specificity. More specifically, mutations in TMS5 can lead not only to increased rate of transport but also to an inactive transporter due to high-affinity substrate-trapping, whereas mutations in TMS12 lead to apparently uncontrolled sliding and broadened specificity, leading in specific cases to UapA-mediated purine toxicity. Our findings shed new light on how elevator transporters function and how this knowledge can be applied to genetically modify their transport characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Dimakis
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Yiannis Pyrris
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - George Diallinas
- Corresponding author: Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, Greece.
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6
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Diallinas G. Transporter Specificity: A Tale of Loosened Elevator-Sliding. Trends Biochem Sci 2021; 46:708-717. [PMID: 33903007 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2021.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Elevator-type transporters are a group of proteins translocating nutrients and metabolites across cell membranes. Despite structural and functional differences, elevator-type transporters use a common mechanism of substrate translocation via reversible movements of a mobile core domain (the elevator), which includes the substrate binding site, along a rigid scaffold domain, stably anchored in the plasma membrane. How substrate specificity is determined in elevator transporters remains elusive. Here, I discuss how a recent report on the sliding elevator mechanism, seen under the context of genetic analysis of a prototype fungal transporter, sheds light on how specificity might be genetically modified. I propose that flexible specificity alterations might occur by 'loosening' of the sliding mechanism from tight coupling to substrate binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784, Athens, Greece; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Greece.
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7
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Impact of Membrane Lipids on UapA and AzgA Transporter Subcellular Localization and Activity in Aspergillus nidulans. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7070514. [PMID: 34203131 PMCID: PMC8304608 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent biochemical and biophysical evidence have established that membrane lipids, namely phospholipids, sphingolipids and sterols, are critical for the function of eukaryotic plasma membrane transporters. Here, we study the effect of selected membrane lipid biosynthesis mutations and of the ergosterol-related antifungal itraconazole on the subcellular localization, stability and transport kinetics of two well-studied purine transporters, UapA and AzgA, in Aspergillus nidulans. We show that genetic reduction in biosynthesis of ergosterol, sphingolipids or phosphoinositides arrest A. nidulans growth after germling formation, but solely blocks in early steps of ergosterol (Erg11) or sphingolipid (BasA) synthesis have a negative effect on plasma membrane (PM) localization and stability of transporters before growth arrest. Surprisingly, the fraction of UapA or AzgA that reaches the PM in lipid biosynthesis mutants is shown to conserve normal apparent transport kinetics. We further show that turnover of UapA, which is the transporter mostly sensitive to membrane lipid content modification, occurs during its trafficking and by enhanced endocytosis, and is partly dependent on autophagy and Hect-type HulARsp5 ubiquitination. Our results point out that the role of specific membrane lipids on transporter biogenesis and function in vivo is complex, combinatorial and transporter-dependent.
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8
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Context-dependent Cryptic Roles of Specific Residues in Substrate Selectivity of the UapA Purine Transporter. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166814. [PMID: 33497644 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Members of the ubiquitous Nucleobase Ascorbate Transporter (NAT) family are H+ or Na+ symporters specific for the cellular uptake of either purines and pyrimidines or L-ascorbic acid. Despite the fact that several bacterial and fungal members have been extensively characterised at a genetic, biochemical or cellular level, and crystal structures of NAT members from Escherichia coli and Aspergillus nidulans have been determined pointing to a mechanism of transport, we have little insight on how substrate selectivity is determined. Here, we present systematic mutational analyses, rational combination of mutations, and novel genetic screens that reveal cryptic context-dependent roles of partially conserved residues in the so-called NAT signature motif in determining the specificity of the UapA transporter of A. nidulans. We show that specific NAT signature motif substitutions, alone and in combinations with each other or with distant mutations in residues known to affect substrate selectivity, lead to novel UapA versions possessing variable transport capacities and specificities for nucleobases. In particular, we show that a UapA version including the quadruple mutation T405S/F406Y/A407S/Q408E in the NAT signature motif (UapA-SYSE) becomes incapable of purine transport, but gains a novel pyrimidine-related profile, which can be further altered to a more promiscuous purine/pyrimidine profile when combined with replacements at distantly located residues, especially at F528. Our results reveal that UapA specificity is genetically highly modifiable and allow us to speculate on how the elevator-type mechanism of transport might account for this flexibility.
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9
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Kourkoulou A, Grevias P, Lambrinidis G, Pyle E, Dionysopoulou M, Politis A, Mikros E, Byrne B, Diallinas G. Specific Residues in a Purine Transporter Are Critical for Dimerization, ER Exit, and Function. Genetics 2019; 213:1357-1372. [PMID: 31611232 PMCID: PMC6893392 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Transporters are transmembrane proteins that mediate the selective translocation of solutes across biological membranes. Recently, we have shown that specific interactions with plasma membrane phospholipids are essential for the formation and/or stability of functional dimers of the purine transporter UapA, a prototypic eukaryotic member of the ubiquitous nucleobase ascorbate transporter (NAT) family. Here, we provide strong evidence that distinct interactions of UapA with membrane lipids are essential for ab initio formation of functional dimers in the ER, or ER exit and further subcellular trafficking. Through genetic screens, we identify mutations that restore defects in dimer formation and/or trafficking. Suppressors of defective dimerization restore ab initio formation of UapA dimers in the ER. Most of these suppressors are located in the movable core domain, but also in the core-dimerization interface and in residues of the dimerization domain exposed to lipids. Molecular dynamics suggest that the majority of suppressors stabilize interhelical interactions in the core domain and thus assist the formation of functional UapA dimers. Among suppressors restoring dimerization, a specific mutation, T401P, was also isolated independently as a suppressor restoring trafficking, suggesting that stabilization of the core domain restores function by sustaining structural defects caused by the abolishment of essential interactions with specific lipids. Importantly, the introduction of mutations topologically equivalent to T401P into a rat homolog of UapA, namely rSNBT1, permitted the functional expression of a mammalian NAT in Aspergillus nidulans Thus, our results provide a potential route for the functional expression and manipulation of mammalian transporters in the model Aspergillus system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anezia Kourkoulou
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784, Greece
| | - Pothos Grevias
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784, Greece
| | - George Lambrinidis
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15771, Greece
| | - Euan Pyle
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, SE1 1DB, UK
| | - Mariangela Dionysopoulou
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784, Greece
| | | | - Emmanuel Mikros
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15771, Greece
| | - Bernadette Byrne
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784, Greece
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10
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Sanguinetti M, Iriarte A, Amillis S, Marín M, Musto H, Ramón A. A pair of non-optimal codons are necessary for the correct biosynthesis of the Aspergillus nidulans urea transporter, UreA. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:190773. [PMID: 31827830 PMCID: PMC6894576 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In both prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes, synonymous codons are unevenly used. Such differential usage of optimal or non-optimal codons has been suggested to play a role in the control of translation initiation and elongation, as well as at the level of transcription and mRNA stability. In the case of membrane proteins, codon usage has been proposed to assist in the establishment of a pause necessary for the correct targeting of the nascent chains to the translocon. By using as a model UreA, the Aspergillus nidulans urea transporter, we revealed that a pair of non-optimal codons encoding amino acids situated at the boundary between the N-terminus and the first transmembrane segment are necessary for proper biogenesis of the protein at 37°C. These codons presumably regulate the translation rate in a previously undescribed fashion, possibly contributing to the correct interaction of ureA-translating ribosome-nascent chain complexes with the signal recognition particle and/or other factors, while the polypeptide has not yet emerged from the ribosomal tunnel. Our results suggest that the presence of the pair of non-optimal codons would not be functionally important in all cellular conditions. Whether this mechanism would affect other proteins remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Sanguinetti
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Andrés Iriarte
- Laboratorio de Biología Computacional, Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, UdelaR, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Organización y Evolución del Genoma, Unidad de Genómica Evolutiva, Departamento de Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, UdelaR, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sotiris Amillis
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Hellas, Greece
| | - Mónica Marín
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Héctor Musto
- Laboratorio de Organización y Evolución del Genoma, Unidad de Genómica Evolutiva, Departamento de Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, UdelaR, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ana Ramón
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
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11
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Cytosolic N- and C-Termini of the Aspergillus nidulans FurE Transporter Contain Distinct Elements that Regulate by Long-Range Effects Function and Specificity. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:3827-3844. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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12
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Diallinas G, Rafailidou N, Kalpaktsi I, Komianou AC, Tsouvali V, Zantza I, Mikros E, Skaltsounis AL, Kostakis IK. Hydroxytyrosol (HT) Analogs Act as Potent Antifungals by Direct Disruption of the Fungal Cell Membrane. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2624. [PMID: 30459736 PMCID: PMC6232300 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections constitute an emerging threat and a prevalent health problem due to increasing number of immunocompromised people and pharmacological or other treatments aiming at viral infections, cancer or allergies. Currently used antifungals suffer from inefficiency, toxic side effects and developing drug-resistance. Additionally, over the last two decades no new classes of antifungals have been approved, emphasizing the urgent need for developing a novel generation of antifungals. Here, we investigate the antifungal activity of a series of chemically synthesized Hydroxytyrosol (HT) analogs. HT is one of the major phenolic compounds in olive oil, shown to possess radical-scavenging antioxidant, antiproliferative, proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities. No previous report has studied HT analogs as antifungals. We show that specific analogs have broad and strong antifungal activity, significantly stronger than the parent compound HT. Using Aspergillus nidulans as an in vivo cellular model system, we show that antifungal HT analogs have an unprecedented efficiency in fungal plasma membrane destruction. Importantly, antifungal HT analogs did not show toxicity in a mammalian cell line, whereas no resistance to HT analogs was obtained by standard mutagenesis. Our results open the way for the development of a novel, efficient and safer class of antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nausica Rafailidou
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Kalpaktsi
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Vivian Tsouvali
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Iliana Zantza
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanuel Mikros
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Ioannis K Kostakis
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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13
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He F, Zhang X, Li B, Safdar A, Ai G, Kange AM, Zhao Y, Cao H, Dou D, Liu F. Comparative transcriptomics of two Valsa pyri isolates uncover different strategies for virulence and growth. Microb Pathog 2018; 123:478-486. [PMID: 30107193 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Valsa pyri, an ascomycete pathogen that is a member of the Valsaceae family (Sordariomycetes, Diaporthales), which causes pear or apple canker and leads to tree death and massive yield losses. Here, we selected two V. pyri isolates (Vp14 and Vp297) that exhibited different invasion abilities for transcriptomics analyses. Compared toVp297, Vp14 had stronger virulence and spread faster on host-like nutrients. Four samples, including mycelium or infectious mycelium, of the two isolates were sequenced. Clean reads were mapped to the V. pyri genome, and 12490 transcripts and 178 new genes were identified. There were dramatically fewer differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Vp14 than in Vp297. According to GO and COG annotations, there were both more up- and down-regulated genes in Vp297 than in Vp14 except for genes involved in amino acid transport and metabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, peroxidases and so on. Specific up-regulated DEGs, including genes encoding cell wall degrading enzymes and genes involved in nitrogen metabolism and peroxidases which play crucial roles in virulence and infectious growth, were especially enriched inVp14. These results indicate that the Vp14 isolate may infect its host and take up nutrition more efficiently, reflecting a stronger ability for invasion or infectious growth. Our analysesindicate that a successful V. pyri infection involves multiple instances of transcriptome remodeling to regulate gene functions. Comparative transcriptomics between isolates of V. pyri may aid in our understanding of the virulence mechanism of this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng He
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiong Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Binxin Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Asma Safdar
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Gan Ai
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Alex Machio Kange
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yancun Zhao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haiqun Cao
- College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Daolong Dou
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Fengquan Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Gavriil ES, Dimitrakis S, Papadaki G, Balaska S, Lambrinidis G, Lougiakis N, Marakos P, Diallinas G, Pouli N, Mikros E. Structure-activity relationships in fungal nucleobases transporters as dissected by the inhibitory effects of novel purine analogues. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 156:240-251. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.06.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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15
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Structural Lipids Enable the Formation of Functional Oligomers of the Eukaryotic Purine Symporter UapA. Cell Chem Biol 2018; 25:840-848.e4. [PMID: 29681524 PMCID: PMC6058078 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The role of membrane lipids in modulating eukaryotic transporter assembly and function remains unclear. We investigated the effect of membrane lipids in the structure and transport activity of the purine transporter UapA from Aspergillus nidulans. We found that UapA exists mainly as a dimer and that two lipid molecules bind per UapA dimer. We identified three phospholipid classes that co-purified with UapA: phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylinositol (PI). UapA delipidation caused dissociation of the dimer into monomers. Subsequent addition of PI or PE rescued the UapA dimer and allowed recovery of bound lipids, suggesting a central role of these lipids in stabilizing the dimer. Molecular dynamics simulations predicted a lipid binding site near the UapA dimer interface. Mutational analyses established that lipid binding at this site is essential for formation of functional UapA dimers. We propose that structural lipids have a central role in the formation of functional, dimeric UapA. Mass spectrometry reveals specific lipid binding to the eukaryotic transporter UapA Interfacial lipids stabilize the functional UapA dimer MD simulations reveal the lipid binding sites Mutagenesis of a lipid binding site disrupts UapA dimerization and function in vivo
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16
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Kourkoulou A, Pittis AA, Diallinas G. Evolution of substrate specificity in the Nucleobase-Ascorbate Transporter (NAT) protein family. MICROBIAL CELL 2018; 5:280-292. [PMID: 29850465 PMCID: PMC5972032 DOI: 10.15698/mic2018.06.636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an essential metabolite in animals and plants due to its role as an enzyme co-factor and antioxidant activity. In most eukaryotic organisms, L-ascorbate is biosynthesized enzymatically, but in several major groups, including the primate suborder Haplorhini, this ability is lost due to gene truncations in the gene coding for L-gulonolactone oxidase. Specific ascorbate transporters (SVCTs) have been characterized only in mammals and shown to be essential for life. These belong to an extensively studied transporter family, called Nucleobase-Ascorbate Transporters (NAT). The prototypic member of this family, and one of the most extensively studied eukaryotic transporters, is UapA, a uric acid-xanthine/H+ symporter in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we investigate molecular aspects of NAT substrate specificity and address the evolution of ascorbate transporters apparently from ancestral nucleobase transporters. We present a phylogenetic analysis, identifying a distinct NAT clade that includes all known L-ascorbate transporters. This clade includes homologues only from vertebrates, and has no members in non-vertebrate or microbial eukaryotes, plants or prokaryotes. Additionally, we identify within the substrate-binding site of NATs a differentially conserved motif, which we propose is critical for nucleobase versus ascorbate recognition. This conclusion is supported by the amino acid composition of this motif in distinct phylogenetic clades and mutational analysis in the UapA transporter. Together with evidence obtained herein that UapA can recognize with extremely low affinity L-ascorbate, our results support that ascorbate-specific NATs evolved by optimization of a sub-function of ancestral nucleobase transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anezia Kourkoulou
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens 15784, Greece
| | | | - George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens 15784, Greece
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17
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Kalampokis IF, Kapetanakis GC, Aliferis KA, Diallinas G. Multiple nucleobase transporters contribute to boscalid sensitivity in Aspergillus nidulans. Fungal Genet Biol 2018; 115:52-63. [PMID: 29501616 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The development of fungicide-resistant fungal populations represents a major challenge for the agrochemical and agri-food sectors, which threatens food supply and security. The issue becomes complex for fungi that cause quantitative and qualitative losses due to mycotoxin biosynthesis. Nonetheless, currently, the molecular details underlying fungicide action and fungal resistance mechanisms are partially known. Here, we have investigated whether plasma membrane transporters contribute to specific fungicide uptake in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Independent physiological tests and toxicity screening of selected fungicides provided evidence that the antifungal activity of Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors (SDHIs) is associated with the expression of several nucleobase-related transporters. In particular, it was shown that a strain genetically inactivated in all seven nucleobase-related transporters is resistant to the fungicide boscalid, whereas none of the single null mutants exhibited significant resistance level. By constructing and testing isogenic strains that over-express each one of the seven transporters, we confirmed that five of them, namely, UapC, AzgA, FycB, CntA, and FurA, contribute to boscalid uptake. Additionally, by employing metabolomics we have examined the effect of boscalid on the metabolism of isogenic strains expressing or genetically lacking boscalid-related nucleobase transporters. The results confirmed the involvement of specific nucleobase transporters in fungicide uptake, leading to the discovery of corresponding metabolites-biomarkers. This work is the first report on the involvement of specific transporters in fungicide uptake and toxicity and their impact on fungal metabolism regulation and results might be further exploited towards the deeper understanding of fungal resistance to fungicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis F Kalampokis
- Laboratory of Pesticide Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 118 55, Greece
| | - George C Kapetanakis
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens 15784, Greece
| | - Konstantinos A Aliferis
- Laboratory of Pesticide Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 118 55, Greece.
| | - George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens 15784, Greece.
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Substrate Specificity of the FurE Transporter Is Determined by Cytoplasmic Terminal Domain Interactions. Genetics 2017; 207:1387-1400. [PMID: 28978674 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
FurE, a member of the Nucleobase Cation Symporter 1 transporter family in Aspergillus nidulans, is specific for allantoin, uric acid (UA), uracil, and related analogs. Herein, we show that C- or N-terminally-truncated FurE transporters (FurE-ΔC or FurE-ΔΝ) present increased protein stability, but also an inability for UA transport. To better understand the role of cytoplasmic terminal regions, we characterized genetic suppressors that restore FurE-ΔC-mediated UA transport. Suppressors map in the periphery of the substrate-binding site [Thr133 in transmembrane segment (TMS)3 and Val343 in TMS8], an outward-facing gate (Ser296 in TMS7, Ile371 in TMS9, and Tyr392 and Leu394 in TMS10), or in flexible loops (Asp26 in LN, Gly222 in L5, and Asn308 in L7). Selected suppressors were also shown to restore the wild-type specificity of FurE-ΔΝ, suggesting that both C- and/or N-terminal domains are involved in intramolecular dynamics critical for substrate selection. A direct, substrate-sensitive interaction of C- and/or N-terminal domains was supported by bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. To our knowledge, this is the first case where not only the function, but also the specificity, of a eukaryotic transporter is regulated by its terminal cytoplasmic regions.
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Balaska S, Myrianthopoulos V, Tselika M, Hatzinikolaou DG, Mikros E, Diallinas G. NmeA, a novel efflux transporter specific for nucleobases and nucleosides, contributes to metal resistance in Aspergillus nidulans. Mol Microbiol 2017; 105:426-439. [PMID: 28509393 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Through Minos transposon mutagenesis we obtained A. nidulans mutants resistant to 5-fluorouracil due to insertions into the upstream region of the uncharacterized gene nmeA, encoding a Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) transporter. Minos transpositions increased nmeA transcription, which is otherwise extremely low under all conditions tested. To dissect the function of NmeA we used strains overexpressing or genetically lacking the nmeA gene. Strains overexpressing NmeA are resistant to toxic purine analogues, but also, to cadmium, zinc and borate, whereas an isogenic nmeAΔ null mutant exhibits increased sensitivity to these compounds. We provide direct evidence that nmeA overexpression leads to efflux of adenine, xanthine, uric acid and allantoin, the latter two being intermediate metabolites of purine catabolism that are toxic when accumulated cytoplasmically due to relevant genetic lesions. By using a functional GFP-tagged version we show that NmeA is a plasma membrane transporter. Homology modeling and docking approaches identified a single purine binding site and a tentative substrate translocation trajectory in NmeA. Orthologues of NmeA are present in all Aspergilli and other Eurotiomycetes, but are absent from other fungi or non-fungal organisms. NmeA is thus the founding member of a new class of transporters essential for fungal success under specific toxic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Balaska
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Vassilios Myrianthopoulos
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, 15771, Greece
| | - Martha Tselika
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Dimitris G Hatzinikolaou
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Emmanuel Mikros
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, 15771, Greece
| | - George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, 15784, Greece
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20
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Barraco-Vega M, Romero H, Richero M, Cerdeiras MP, Cecchetto G. Functional characterization of two novel purine transporters from the Basidiomycota Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Gene 2017; 601:1-10. [PMID: 27923672 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Purine transporters as substrate entry points in organisms, are involved in a number of cellular processes such as nitrogen source uptake, energy metabolism and synthesis of nucleic acids. In this study, two nucleobase transporter genes (phZ, phU) from Phanerochaete chrysosporium were cloned, identified, and functionally characterized. Our results show that PhZ is a transporter of adenine and hypoxanthine, and a protein belonging to the AzgA-like family, whilst PhU belongs to the NAT/NCS2 family, transporting xanthine and uric acid. No other sequences belonging to these families were detected in P. chrysosporium's genome. Phylogenetic analyses show that AzgA-like sequences form monophyletic groups for each major lineage (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Zygomycota). In contrast, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota NAT/NCS2 sequences do not form monophyletic groups and several copies of this protein are distributed across the tree. Expression of phU was significantly downregulated in the presence of a primary source like ammonium, and enhanced if purines were present or if the mycelium was nitrogen starved. phZ was clearly induced by its substrates (hypoxanthine, adenine), very lightly induced by xanthine, suppressed by urea and amino acids and expressed at a basal level when uric acid or ammonium was the nitrogen source or when the mycelium was starved for nitrogen. In order to perform substrate analyses, both P. chrysosporium proteins (PhZ, PhU) were expressed in Aspergillus nidulans. Epifluorescent microscopy showed that under inducing conditions, PhZ-GFP and PhU-GFP were present at the plasma membrane of A. nidulans transformed strains, and were internalized in repressed conditions. Our results suggest that in the white-rot fungus P. chrysosporium, phU has a catabolic role and phZ, (less dependent of the nitrogen source), plays a key role in purine acquisition to provide biosynthetic components. These are the first purine transporters characterized in Basidiomycota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Barraco-Vega
- Microbiología Departamento de Biociencias, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay.
| | - Héctor Romero
- Laboratorio de Organización y Evolución del Genoma, Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Mariana Richero
- Microbiología Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias - Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - María Pía Cerdeiras
- Microbiología Departamento de Biociencias, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Gianna Cecchetto
- Microbiología Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias - Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
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21
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de Vries RP, Riley R, Wiebenga A, Aguilar-Osorio G, Amillis S, Uchima CA, Anderluh G, Asadollahi M, Askin M, Barry K, Battaglia E, Bayram Ö, Benocci T, Braus-Stromeyer SA, Caldana C, Cánovas D, Cerqueira GC, Chen F, Chen W, Choi C, Clum A, dos Santos RAC, Damásio ARDL, Diallinas G, Emri T, Fekete E, Flipphi M, Freyberg S, Gallo A, Gournas C, Habgood R, Hainaut M, Harispe ML, Henrissat B, Hildén KS, Hope R, Hossain A, Karabika E, Karaffa L, Karányi Z, Kraševec N, Kuo A, Kusch H, LaButti K, Lagendijk EL, Lapidus A, Levasseur A, Lindquist E, Lipzen A, Logrieco AF, MacCabe A, Mäkelä MR, Malavazi I, Melin P, Meyer V, Mielnichuk N, Miskei M, Molnár ÁP, Mulé G, Ngan CY, Orejas M, Orosz E, Ouedraogo JP, Overkamp KM, Park HS, Perrone G, Piumi F, Punt PJ, Ram AFJ, Ramón A, Rauscher S, Record E, Riaño-Pachón DM, Robert V, Röhrig J, Ruller R, Salamov A, Salih NS, Samson RA, Sándor E, Sanguinetti M, Schütze T, Sepčić K, Shelest E, Sherlock G, Sophianopoulou V, Squina FM, Sun H, Susca A, Todd RB, Tsang A, Unkles SE, van de Wiele N, van Rossen-Uffink D, Oliveira JVDC, Vesth TC, Visser J, Yu JH, Zhou M, Andersen MR, Archer DB, Baker SE, Benoit I, Brakhage AA, Braus GH, Fischer R, Frisvad JC, Goldman GH, Houbraken J, Oakley B, Pócsi I, Scazzocchio C, Seiboth B, vanKuyk PA, Wortman J, Dyer PS, Grigoriev IV. Comparative genomics reveals high biological diversity and specific adaptations in the industrially and medically important fungal genus Aspergillus. Genome Biol 2017; 18:28. [PMID: 28196534 PMCID: PMC5307856 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-017-1151-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 320] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fungal genus Aspergillus is of critical importance to humankind. Species include those with industrial applications, important pathogens of humans, animals and crops, a source of potent carcinogenic contaminants of food, and an important genetic model. The genome sequences of eight aspergilli have already been explored to investigate aspects of fungal biology, raising questions about evolution and specialization within this genus. RESULTS We have generated genome sequences for ten novel, highly diverse Aspergillus species and compared these in detail to sister and more distant genera. Comparative studies of key aspects of fungal biology, including primary and secondary metabolism, stress response, biomass degradation, and signal transduction, revealed both conservation and diversity among the species. Observed genomic differences were validated with experimental studies. This revealed several highlights, such as the potential for sex in asexual species, organic acid production genes being a key feature of black aspergilli, alternative approaches for degrading plant biomass, and indications for the genetic basis of stress response. A genome-wide phylogenetic analysis demonstrated in detail the relationship of the newly genome sequenced species with other aspergilli. CONCLUSIONS Many aspects of biological differences between fungal species cannot be explained by current knowledge obtained from genome sequences. The comparative genomics and experimental study, presented here, allows for the first time a genus-wide view of the biological diversity of the aspergilli and in many, but not all, cases linked genome differences to phenotype. Insights gained could be exploited for biotechnological and medical applications of fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald P. de Vries
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Riley
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Ad Wiebenga
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Guillermo Aguilar-Osorio
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, National University of Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F. C.P. 04510 Mexico
| | - Sotiris Amillis
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15781 Athens, Greece
| | - Cristiane Akemi Uchima
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192 CEP 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo Brasil
- Present address: VTT Brasil, Alameda Inajá, 123, CEP 06460-055 Barueri, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Gregor Anderluh
- Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mojtaba Asadollahi
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Marion Askin
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
- Present address: CSIRO Publishing, Unipark, Building 1 Level 1, 195 Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3168 Australia
| | - Kerrie Barry
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Evy Battaglia
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Özgür Bayram
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare Ireland
| | - Tiziano Benocci
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Susanna A. Braus-Stromeyer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Camila Caldana
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192 CEP 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo Brasil
- Max Planck Partner Group, Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory, CEP 13083-100 Campinas, Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - David Cánovas
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Avda de Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
- Fungal Genetics and Genomics Unit, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Fusheng Chen
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Wanping Chen
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Cindy Choi
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Alicia Clum
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Renato Augusto Corrêa dos Santos
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192 CEP 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo Brasil
| | - André Ricardo de Lima Damásio
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192 CEP 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo Brasil
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, CEP 13083-862 Campinas, SP Brazil
| | - George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15781 Athens, Greece
| | - Tamás Emri
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Erzsébet Fekete
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Michel Flipphi
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Susanne Freyberg
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Antonia Gallo
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Christos Gournas
- Institute of Biosciences and Applications, Microbial Molecular Genetics Laboratory, National Center for Scientific Research, Demokritos (NCSRD), Athens, Greece
- Present address: Université Libre de Bruxelles Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicine (IBMM), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rob Habgood
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | | | - María Laura Harispe
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Unidad Mixta INIA-IPMont, Mataojo 2020, CP11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
- Present address: Instituto de Profesores Artigas, Consejo de Formación en Educación, ANEP, CP 11800, Av. del Libertador 2025, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Bernard Henrissat
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
- INRA, USC 1408 AFMB, 13288 Marseille, France
- Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kristiina S. Hildén
- Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ryan Hope
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | - Abeer Hossain
- Dutch DNA Biotech BV, Utrechtseweg 48, 3703AJ Zeist, The Netherlands
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eugenia Karabika
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH UK
- Present Address: Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110 Greece
| | - Levente Karaffa
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Karányi
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Nada Kraševec
- Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alan Kuo
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Harald Kusch
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Medical Informatics, University Medical Centre, Robert-Koch-Str.40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Molecular Biology, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, Göttingen, 37073 Germany
| | - Kurt LaButti
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Ellen L. Lagendijk
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alla Lapidus
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
- Present address: Center for Algorithmic Biotechnology, St.Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anthony Levasseur
- INRA, Aix-Marseille Univ, BBF, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, Marseille, France
- Present address: Aix-Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM U1095, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Pôle des Maladies Infectieuses, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Faculté de Médecine, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Erika Lindquist
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Anna Lipzen
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Antonio F. Logrieco
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Andrew MacCabe
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Miia R. Mäkelä
- Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Iran Malavazi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Petter Melin
- Uppsala BioCenter, Department of Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7025, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
- Present address: Swedish Chemicals Agency, Box 2, 172 13 Sundbyberg, Sweden
| | - Vera Meyer
- Institute of Biotechnology, Department Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Berlin University of Technology, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Natalia Mielnichuk
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Avda de Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
- Present address: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. César Milstein, Fundación Pablo Cassará, CONICET, Saladillo 2468 C1440FFX, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Márton Miskei
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- MTA-DE Momentum, Laboratory of Protein Dynamics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt.98., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ákos P. Molnár
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Giuseppina Mulé
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Chew Yee Ngan
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Margarita Orejas
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Erzsébet Orosz
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Jean Paul Ouedraogo
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
- Present address: Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada
| | - Karin M. Overkamp
- Dutch DNA Biotech BV, Utrechtseweg 48, 3703AJ Zeist, The Netherlands
| | - Hee-Soo Park
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701 Republic of Korea
| | - Giancarlo Perrone
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Francois Piumi
- INRA, Aix-Marseille Univ, BBF, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, Marseille, France
- Present address: INRA UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et de la Reproduction - Domaine de Vilvert, Jouy en Josas, 78352 Cedex France
| | - Peter J. Punt
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
- Dutch DNA Biotech BV, Utrechtseweg 48, 3703AJ Zeist, The Netherlands
| | - Arthur F. J. Ram
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ana Ramón
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Stefan Rauscher
- Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Hertzstrasse 16,, 76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Eric Record
- INRA, Aix-Marseille Univ, BBF, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, Marseille, France
| | - Diego Mauricio Riaño-Pachón
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192 CEP 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo Brasil
| | - Vincent Robert
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Julian Röhrig
- Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Hertzstrasse 16,, 76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Roberto Ruller
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192 CEP 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo Brasil
| | - Asaf Salamov
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Nadhira S. Salih
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
- Department of Biology, School of Science, University of Sulaimani, Al Sulaymaneyah, Iraq
| | - Rob A. Samson
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Erzsébet Sándor
- Institute of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Manuel Sanguinetti
- Sección Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Tabea Schütze
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
- Present address: Department Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Berlin University of Technology, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristina Sepčić
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ekaterina Shelest
- Systems Biology/Bioinformatics group, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knoell Institute, (HKI), Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Gavin Sherlock
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5120 USA
| | - Vicky Sophianopoulou
- Institute of Biosciences and Applications, Microbial Molecular Genetics Laboratory, National Center for Scientific Research, Demokritos (NCSRD), Athens, Greece
| | - Fabio M. Squina
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192 CEP 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo Brasil
| | - Hui Sun
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
| | - Antonia Susca
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Richard B. Todd
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA
| | - Adrian Tsang
- Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada
| | - Shiela E. Unkles
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH UK
| | - Nathalie van de Wiele
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Diana van Rossen-Uffink
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
- Present address: BaseClear B.V., Einsteinweg 5, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Juliana Velasco de Castro Oliveira
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6192 CEP 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo Brasil
| | - Tammi C. Vesth
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads 223, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jaap Visser
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jae-Hyuk Yu
- Departments of Bacteriology and Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Miaomiao Zhou
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mikael R. Andersen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads 223, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - David B. Archer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | - Scott E. Baker
- Fungal Biotechnology Team, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, 99352 USA
| | - Isabelle Benoit
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Present address: Centre of Functional and Structure Genomics Biology Department Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada
| | - Axel A. Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute (HKI) and Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Gerhard H. Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Reinhard Fischer
- Department of Microbiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Hertzstrasse 16,, 76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jens C. Frisvad
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads 223, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café S/N, CEP 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Jos Houbraken
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Berl Oakley
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 USA
| | - István Pócsi
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Claudio Scazzocchio
- Department of Microbiology, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ UK
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, University Paris‐Sud, Université Paris‐Saclay, 91198 Gif‐sur‐Yvette cedex, France
| | - Bernhard Seiboth
- Research Division Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Patricia A. vanKuyk
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jennifer Wortman
- Broad Institute, 415 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
- Present address: Seres Therapeutics, 200 Sidney St, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
| | - Paul S. Dyer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | - Igor V. Grigoriev
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA
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Sioupouli G, Lambrinidis G, Mikros E, Amillis S, Diallinas G. Cryptic purine transporters inAspergillus nidulansreveal the role of specific residues in the evolution of specificity in the NCS1 family. Mol Microbiol 2016; 103:319-332. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Sioupouli
- Department of Biology; National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis; Athens 15784 Greece
| | - George Lambrinidis
- Department of Pharmacy; National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis; Athens 15771 Greece
| | - Emmanuel Mikros
- Department of Pharmacy; National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis; Athens 15771 Greece
| | - Sotiris Amillis
- Department of Biology; National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis; Athens 15784 Greece
| | - George Diallinas
- Department of Biology; National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis; Athens 15784 Greece
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Lougiakis N, Gavriil ES, Kairis M, Sioupouli G, Lambrinidis G, Benaki D, Krypotou E, Mikros E, Marakos P, Pouli N, Diallinas G. Design and synthesis of purine analogues as highly specific ligands for FcyB, a ubiquitous fungal nucleobase transporter. Bioorg Med Chem 2016; 24:5941-5952. [PMID: 27720327 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.09.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
In the course of our study on fungal purine transporters, a number of new 3-deazapurine analogues have been rationally designed, based on the interaction of purine substrates with the Aspergillus nidulans FcyB carrier, and synthesized following an effective synthetic procedure. Certain derivatives have been found to specifically inhibit FcyB-mediated [3H]-adenine uptake. Molecular simulations have been performed, suggesting that all active compounds interact with FcyB through the formation of hydrogen bonds with Asn163, while the insertion of hydrophobic fragments at position 9 and N6 of 3-deazaadenine enhanced the inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Lougiakis
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - Efthymios-Spyridon Gavriil
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - Markelos Kairis
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - Georgia Sioupouli
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece
| | - George Lambrinidis
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - Dimitra Benaki
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - Emilia Krypotou
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece
| | - Emmanuel Mikros
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Marakos
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - Nicole Pouli
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece.
| | - George Diallinas
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15784, Greece.
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24
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Dissection of Transporter Function: From Genetics to Structure. Trends Genet 2016; 32:576-590. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2016.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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25
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Structure of eukaryotic purine/H(+) symporter UapA suggests a role for homodimerization in transport activity. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11336. [PMID: 27088252 PMCID: PMC4837479 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The uric acid/xanthine H+ symporter, UapA, is a high-affinity purine transporter from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Here we present the crystal structure of a genetically stabilized version of UapA (UapA-G411VΔ1–11) in complex with xanthine. UapA is formed from two domains, a core domain and a gate domain, similar to the previously solved uracil transporter UraA, which belongs to the same family. The structure shows UapA in an inward-facing conformation with xanthine bound to residues in the core domain. Unlike UraA, which was observed to be a monomer, UapA forms a dimer in the crystals with dimer interactions formed exclusively through the gate domain. Analysis of dominant negative mutants is consistent with dimerization playing a key role in transport. We postulate that UapA uses an elevator transport mechanism likely to be shared with other structurally homologous transporters including anion exchangers and prestin. UapA is a uric acid/xanthine H+ symporter from a filamentous fungus. Here, the authors solve the crystal structure of the transporter in complex with xanthine revealing it to be a dimer, and this homodimerisation is proposed to be important for function.
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Martzoukou O, Karachaliou M, Yalelis V, Leung J, Byrne B, Amillis S, Diallinas G. Oligomerization of the UapA Purine Transporter Is Critical for ER-Exit, Plasma Membrane Localization and Turnover. J Mol Biol 2015; 427:2679-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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27
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Krypotou E, Evangelidis T, Bobonis J, Pittis AA, Gabaldón T, Scazzocchio C, Mikros E, Diallinas G. Origin, diversification and substrate specificity in the family of NCS1/FUR transporters. Mol Microbiol 2015; 96:927-50. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Krypotou
- Faculty of Biology; University of Athens; Panepistimioupolis Athens 15784 Greece
| | - Thomas Evangelidis
- Faculty of Pharmacy; University of Athens; Panepistimioupolis Athens 15771 Greece
| | - Jacob Bobonis
- Faculty of Biology; University of Athens; Panepistimioupolis Athens 15784 Greece
| | - Alexandros A. Pittis
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme; Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG); Dr. Aiguader, 88 Barcelona 08003 Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF); Barcelona 08003 Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme; Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG); Dr. Aiguader, 88 Barcelona 08003 Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF); Barcelona 08003 Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA); Pg. Lluís Companys 23 Barcelona 08010 Spain
| | - Claudio Scazzocchio
- Department of Microbiology; Imperial College; London SW7 2AZ UK
- Institut de Génétique et Microbiologie; Université Paris-Sud; France
| | - Emmanuel Mikros
- Faculty of Pharmacy; University of Athens; Panepistimioupolis Athens 15771 Greece
| | - George Diallinas
- Faculty of Biology; University of Athens; Panepistimioupolis Athens 15784 Greece
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Molecular dissection of a Borrelia burgdorferi in vivo essential purine transport system. Infect Immun 2015; 83:2224-33. [PMID: 25776752 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02859-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is dependent on purine salvage from the host environment for survival. The genes bbb22 and bbb23 encode purine permeases that are essential for B. burgdorferi mouse infectivity. We now demonstrate the unique contributions of each of these genes to purine transport and murine infection. The affinities of spirochetes carrying bbb22 alone for hypoxanthine and adenine were similar to those of spirochetes carrying both genes. Spirochetes carrying bbb22 alone were able to achieve wild-type levels of adenine saturation but not hypoxanthine saturation, suggesting that maximal hypoxanthine uptake requires the presence of bbb23. Moreover, the purine transport activity conferred by bbb22 was dependent on an additional distal transcriptional start site located within the bbb23 open reading frame. The initial rates of uptake of hypoxanthine and adenine by spirochetes carrying bbb23 alone were below the level of detection. However, these spirochetes demonstrated a measurable increase in hypoxanthine uptake over a 30-min time course. Our findings indicate that bbb22-dependent adenine transport is essential for B. burgdorferi survival in mice. The bbb23 gene was dispensable for B. burgdorferi mouse infectivity, yet its presence was required along with that of bbb22 for B. burgdorferi to achieve maximal spirochete loads in infected mouse tissues. These data demonstrate that both genes, bbb22 and bbb23, are critical for B. burgdorferi to achieve wild-type infection of mice and that the differences in the capabilities of the two transporters may reflect distinct purine salvage needs that the spirochete encounters throughout its natural infectious cycle.
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Sá-Pessoa J, Amillis S, Casal M, Diallinas G. Expression and specificity profile of the major acetate transporter AcpA in Aspergillus nidulans. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 76:93-103. [PMID: 25708319 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Revised: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
AcpA has been previously characterized as a high-affinity transporter essential for the uptake and use of acetate as sole carbon source in Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we follow the expression profile of AcpA and define its substrate specificity. AcpA-mediated acetate transport is detected from the onset of conidiospore germination, peaks at the time of germ tube emergence, and drops to low basal levels in germlings and young mycelia, where a second acetate transporter is also becoming apparent. AcpA activity also responds to acetate presence in the growth medium, but is not subject to either carbon or nitrogen catabolite repression. Short-chain monocarboxylates (benzoate, formate, butyrate and propionate) inhibit AcpA-mediated acetate transport with apparent inhibition constants (Ki) of 16.89±2.12, 9.25±1.01, 12.06±3.29 and 1.44±0.13mM, respectively. AcpA is also shown not to be directly involved in ammonia export, as proposed for its Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologue Ady2p. In the second part of this work, we search for the unknown acetate transporter expressed in mycelia, and for other transporters that might contribute to acetate uptake. In silico analysis, genetic construction of relevant null mutants, and uptake assays, reveal that the closest AcpA homologue (AN1839), named AcpB, is the 'missing' secondary acetate transporter in mycelia. We also identify two major short-chain carboxylate (lactate, succinate, pyruvate and malate) transporters, named JenA (AN6095) and JenB (AN6703), which however are not involved in acetate uptake. This work establishes a framework for further exploiting acetate and carboxylate transport in filamentous ascomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Sá-Pessoa
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
| | - Sotiris Amillis
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Botany, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens 15781, Greece
| | - Margarida Casal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.
| | - George Diallinas
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Botany, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens 15781, Greece.
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Functional characterization of NAT/NCS2 proteins of Aspergillus brasiliensis reveals a genuine xanthine-uric acid transporter and an intrinsically misfolded polypeptide. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 75:56-63. [PMID: 25639910 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Revised: 01/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The Nucleobase-Ascorbate Transporter (NAT) family includes members in nearly all domains of life. Functionally characterized NAT transporters from bacteria, fungi, plants and mammals are ion-coupled symporters specific for the uptake of purines, pyrimidines and related analogues. The characterized mammalian NATs are specific for the uptake of L-ascorbic acid. In this work we identify in silico a group of fungal putative transporters, named UapD-like proteins, which represent a novel NAT subfamily. To understand the function and specificity of UapD proteins, we cloned and functionally characterized the two Aspergillus brasiliensis NAT members (named AbUapC and AbUapD) by heterologous expression in Aspergillus nidulans. AbUapC represents canonical NATs (UapC or UapA), while AbUapD represents the new subfamily. AbUapC is a high-affinity, high-capacity, H(+)/xanthine-uric acid transporter, which can also recognize other purines with very low affinity. No apparent transport function could be detected for AbUapD. GFP-tagging showed that, unlike AbUapC which is localized in the plasma membrane, AbUapD is ER-retained and degraded in the vacuoles, a characteristic of misfolded proteins. Chimeric UapA/AbUapD molecules are also turned-over in the vacuole, suggesting that UapD includes intrinsic peptidic sequences leading to misfolding. The possible evolutionary implication of such conserved, but inactive proteins is discussed.
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Diallinas G. Understanding transporter specificity and the discrete appearance of channel-like gating domains in transporters. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:207. [PMID: 25309439 PMCID: PMC4162363 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transporters are ubiquitous proteins mediating the translocation of solutes across cell membranes, a biological process involved in nutrition, signaling, neurotransmission, cell communication and drug uptake or efflux. Similarly to enzymes, most transporters have a single substrate binding-site and thus their activity follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Substrate binding elicits a series of structural changes, which produce a transporter conformer open toward the side opposite to the one from where the substrate was originally bound. This mechanism, involving alternate outward- and inward-facing transporter conformers, has gained significant support from structural, genetic, biochemical and biophysical approaches. Most transporters are specific for a given substrate or a group of substrates with similar chemical structure, but substrate specificity and/or affinity can vary dramatically, even among members of a transporter family that show high overall amino acid sequence and structural similarity. The current view is that transporter substrate affinity or specificity is determined by a small number of interactions a given solute can make within a specific binding site. However, genetic, biochemical and in silico modeling studies with the purine transporter UapA of the filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans have challenged this dogma. This review highlights results leading to a novel concept, stating that substrate specificity, but also transport kinetics and transporter turnover, are determined by subtle intramolecular interactions between a major substrate binding site and independent outward- or cytoplasmically-facing gating domains, analogous to those present in channels. This concept is supported by recent structural evidence from several, phylogenetically and functionally distinct transporter families. The significance of this concept is discussed in relationship to the role and potential exploitation of transporters in drug action.
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