The transport mechanism of P4 ATPase lipid flippases.
Biochem J 2021;
477:3769-3790. [PMID:
33045059 DOI:
10.1042/bcj20200249]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
P4 ATPase lipid flippases are ATP-driven transporters that translocate specific lipids from the exoplasmic to the cytosolic leaflet of biological membranes, thus establishing a lipid gradient between the two leaflets that is essential for many cellular processes. While substrate specificity, subcellular and tissue-specific expression, and physiological functions have been assigned to a number of these transporters in several organisms, the mechanism of lipid transport has been a topic of intense debate in the field. The recent publication of a series of structural models based on X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM studies has provided the first glimpse into how P4 ATPases have adapted the transport mechanism used by the cation-pumping family members to accommodate a substrate that is at least an order of magnitude larger than cations.
Collapse