1
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Kuhn BT, Zöller J, Zimmermann I, Gemeinhardt T, Özkul DH, Langer JD, Seeger MA, Geertsma ER. Interdomain-linkers control conformational transitions in the SLC23 elevator transporter UraA. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7518. [PMID: 39209842 PMCID: PMC11362169 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51814-8] [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: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Uptake of nucleobases and ascorbate is an essential process in all living organisms mediated by SLC23 transport proteins. These transmembrane carriers operate via the elevator alternating-access mechanism, and are composed of two rigid domains whose relative motion drives transport. The lack of large conformational changes within these domains suggests that the interdomain-linkers act as flexible tethers. Here, we show that interdomain-linkers are not mere tethers, but have a key regulatory role in dictating the conformational space of the transporter and defining the rotation axis of the mobile transport domain. By resolving a wide inward-open conformation of the SLC23 elevator transporter UraA and combining biochemical studies using a synthetic nanobody as conformational probe with hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that interdomain-linkers control the function of transport proteins by influencing substrate affinity and transport rate. These findings open the possibility to allosterically modulate the activity of elevator proteins by targeting their linkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt T Kuhn
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jonathan Zöller
- Proteomics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Iwan Zimmermann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tim Gemeinhardt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Dogukan H Özkul
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Julian D Langer
- Proteomics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Proteomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Markus A Seeger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eric R Geertsma
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
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2
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Su CC, Zhang Z, Lyu M, Cui M, Yu EW. Cryo-EM structures of the human band 3 transporter indicate a transport mechanism involving the coupled movement of chloride and bicarbonate ions. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002719. [PMID: 39167625 PMCID: PMC11338459 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The band 3 transporter is a critical integral membrane protein of the red blood cell (RBC), as it is responsible for catalyzing the exchange of bicarbonate and chloride anions across the plasma membrane. To elucidate the structural mechanism of the band 3 transporter, detergent solubilized human ghost membrane reconstituted in nanodiscs was applied to a cryo-EM holey carbon grid to define its composition. With this approach, we identified and determined structural information of the human band 3 transporter. Here, we present 5 different cryo-EM structures of the transmembrane domain of dimeric band 3, either alone or bound with chloride or bicarbonate. Interestingly, we observed that human band 3 can form both symmetric and asymmetric dimers with a different combination of outward-facing (OF) and inward-facing (IF) states. These structures also allow us to obtain the first model of a human band 3 molecule at the IF conformation. Based on the structural data of these dimers, we propose a model of ion transport that is in favor of the elevator-type mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chia Su
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Zhemin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Meinan Lyu
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Meng Cui
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University School of Pharmacy, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Edward W. Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
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3
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Lv H, Cao Y, Zhu J, Liang Q. Molecular Insights into the Effect of Cholesterol on the Binding of Bicarbonate Ions in Band 3 Protein. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:10908-10915. [PMID: 38739034 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Band 3, or anion exchanger 1 (AE1), is one of the indispensable transmembrane proteins involved in the effective respiratory process of the human body and is primarily responsible for the exchange of bicarbonate and chloride anions across the plasma membrane of erythrocyte. However, the molecular mechanism of ion transport of Band 3 is not completely understood, yet. In this work, we systematically investigate the key binding sites of bicarbonate ions in Band 3 and the impact of cholesterol (CHOL) in lipid bilayers on bicarbonate ion binding using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We examine the dynamics of interactions of bicarbonate ions with Band 3 in the microsecond time scale and calculate the binding free energy of the anion in Band 3. The results indicate that the residue R730 of Band 3 is the most probable binding site for bicarbonate ions. CHOL enhances the bicarbonate ion binding by influencing the conformational stability of Band 3 and compressing the volume of the Band 3 cavity. These findings provide some insights into the bicarbonate ion binding in Band 3 and are helpful for understanding the anion exchange of Band 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiying Lv
- Center for Statistical and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics & Department of Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
- Zhejiang Institute of Photoelectronics & Zhejiang Institute for Advanced Light Source, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Yu Cao
- Center for Statistical and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics & Department of Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
- Zhejiang Institute of Photoelectronics & Zhejiang Institute for Advanced Light Source, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Jin Zhu
- Center for Statistical and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics & Department of Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
- Zhejiang Institute of Photoelectronics & Zhejiang Institute for Advanced Light Source, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Qing Liang
- Center for Statistical and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics & Department of Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
- Zhejiang Institute of Photoelectronics & Zhejiang Institute for Advanced Light Source, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
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4
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Lu Y, Zuo P, Chen H, Shan H, Wang W, Dai Z, Xu H, Chen Y, Liang L, Ding D, Jin Y, Yin Y. Structural insights into the conformational changes of BTR1/SLC4A11 in complex with PIP 2. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6157. [PMID: 37788993 PMCID: PMC10547724 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41924-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BTR1 (SLC4A11) is a NH3 stimulated H+ (OH-) transporter belonging to the SLC4 family. Dysfunction of BTR1 leads to diseases such as congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED) and Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). However, the mechanistic basis of BTR1 activation by alkaline pH, transport activity regulation and pathogenic mutations remains elusive. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of human BTR1 in the outward-facing state in complex with its activating ligands PIP2 and the inward-facing state with the pathogenic R125H mutation. We reveal that PIP2 binds at the interface between the transmembrane domain and the N-terminal cytosolic domain of BTR1. Disruption of either the PIP2 binding site or protonation of PIP2 phosphate groups by acidic pH can transform BTR1 into an inward-facing conformation. Our results provide insights into the mechanisms of how the transport activity and conformation changes of BTR1 are regulated by PIP2 binding and interaction of TMD and NTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yishuo Lu
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Peng Zuo
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Pathology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Hongyi Chen
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Hui Shan
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Weize Wang
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Pathology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zonglin Dai
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Pathology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | | | | | - Ling Liang
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Pathology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Dian Ding
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Pathology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yan Jin
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Pathology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuxin Yin
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Pathology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
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5
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Capper MJ, Yang S, Stone AC, Vatansever S, Zilberg G, Mathiharan YK, Habib R, Hutchinson K, Zhao Y, Schlessinger A, Mezei M, Osman R, Zhang B, Wacker D. Substrate binding and inhibition of the anion exchanger 1 transporter. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2023; 30:1495-1504. [PMID: 37679563 PMCID: PMC11008770 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01085-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Anion exchanger 1 (AE1), a member of the solute carrier (SLC) family, is the primary bicarbonate transporter in erythrocytes, regulating pH levels and CO2 transport between lungs and tissues. Previous studies characterized its role in erythrocyte structure and provided insight into transport regulation. However, key questions remain regarding substrate binding and transport, mechanisms of drug inhibition and modulation by membrane components. Here we present seven cryo-EM structures in apo, bicarbonate-bound and inhibitor-bound states. These, combined with uptake and computational studies, reveal important molecular features of substrate recognition and transport, and illuminate sterol binding sites, to elucidate distinct inhibitory mechanisms of research chemicals and prescription drugs. We further probe the substrate binding site via structure-based ligand screening, identifying an AE1 inhibitor. Together, our findings provide insight into mechanisms of solute carrier transport and inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Capper
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shifan Yang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander C Stone
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sezen Vatansever
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory Zilberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yamuna Kalyani Mathiharan
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Raul Habib
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Keino Hutchinson
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yihan Zhao
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Avner Schlessinger
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mihaly Mezei
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roman Osman
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Wacker
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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6
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Beltran JL, McGrath LG, Caruso S, Bain RK, Hendrix CE, Kamran H, Johnston HG, Collings RM, Henry MCN, Abera TAL, Donoso VA, Carriker EC, Thurtle-Schmidt BH. Borate Transporters and SLC4 Bicarbonate Transporters Share Key Functional Properties. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:membranes13020235. [PMID: 36837738 PMCID: PMC9959716 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13020235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Borate transporters are membrane transport proteins that regulate intracellular borate levels. In plants, borate is a micronutrient essential for growth but is toxic in excess, while in yeast, borate is unnecessary for growth and borate export confers tolerance. Borate transporters share structural homology with human bicarbonate transporters in the SLC4 family despite low sequence identity and differences in transported solutes. Here, we characterize the S. cerevisiae borate transporter Bor1p and examine whether key biochemical features of SLC4 transporters extend to borate transporters. We show that borate transporters and SLC4 transporters share multiple properties, including lipid-promoted dimerization, sensitivity to stilbene disulfonate-derived inhibitors, and a requirement for an acidic residue at the solute binding site. We also identify several amino acids critical for Bor1p function and show that disease-causing mutations in human SLC4A1 will eliminate in vivo function when their homologous mutations are introduced in Bor1p. Our data help elucidate mechanistic features of Bor1p and reveal significant functional properties shared between borate transporters and SLC4 transporters.
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7
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Zhekova HR, Jiang J, Wang W, Tsirulnikov K, Kayık G, Khan HM, Azimov R, Abuladze N, Kao L, Newman D, Noskov SY, Tieleman DP, Hong Zhou Z, Pushkin A, Kurtz I. CryoEM structures of anion exchanger 1 capture multiple states of inward- and outward-facing conformations. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1372. [PMID: 36517642 PMCID: PMC9751308 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04306-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Anion exchanger 1 (AE1, band 3) is a major membrane protein of red blood cells and plays a key role in acid-base homeostasis, urine acidification, red blood cell shape regulation, and removal of carbon dioxide during respiration. Though structures of the transmembrane domain (TMD) of three SLC4 transporters, including AE1, have been resolved previously in their outward-facing (OF) state, no mammalian SLC4 structure has been reported in the inward-facing (IF) conformation. Here we present the cryoEM structures of full-length bovine AE1 with its TMD captured in both IF and OF conformations. Remarkably, both IF-IF homodimers and IF-OF heterodimers were detected. The IF structures feature downward movement in the core domain with significant unexpected elongation of TM11. Molecular modeling and structure guided mutagenesis confirmed the functional significance of residues involved in TM11 elongation. Our data provide direct evidence for an elevator-like mechanism of ion transport by an SLC4 family member.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hristina R Zhekova
- Centre for Molecular Simulation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Jiansen Jiang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Weiguang Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kirill Tsirulnikov
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gülru Kayık
- Centre for Molecular Simulation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Hanif Muhammad Khan
- Centre for Molecular Simulation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Rustam Azimov
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Natalia Abuladze
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liyo Kao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Debbie Newman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sergei Yu Noskov
- Centre for Molecular Simulation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - D Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Z Hong Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alexander Pushkin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ira Kurtz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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8
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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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9
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Miyamoto A, Yamanaka T, Suzuki S, Kunii K, Kurono K, Yoshimi A, Hidaka M, Ogasawara S, Nanatani K, Abe K. Oligomeric state of the aspartate:alanine transporter (AspT) from Tetragenococcus halophilus. J Biochem 2022; 172:217-224. [PMID: 35818339 PMCID: PMC9527358 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvac057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aspartate:alanine exchanger family of membrane transporters includes industrially important transporters such as succinate exporter and glutamate exporter. No high-resolution structure is available from this family so far, and the transport mechanism of these transporters also remains unclear. In the present study, we focus on the oligomeric status of the aspartate:alanine antiporter (AspT) of Tetragenococcus halophilus, which is the prototype of this family. To investigate the oligomeric structure of AspT, we established a system that produces high yields of highly purified AspT and determined the oligomeric structure of AspT by analysis with size exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle light scattering and blue native PAGE and by comparison of the wild-type AspT with a single-cysteine mutant that forms spontaneous inter-molecular thiol crosslinking. All the results consistently support the notion that AspT is a homodimer in solutions and in membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akari Miyamoto
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-0845 Japan
| | - Takashi Yamanaka
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-0845 Japan
| | - Satomi Suzuki
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-0845 Japan
| | - Kota Kunii
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-0845 Japan
| | - Kenichiro Kurono
- LS-Project, Shoko Science Co., Ltd., Aoba-ku, Yokohama, 225-0012 Japan
| | - Akira Yoshimi
- Microbial Genomics Laboratory, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Masafumi Hidaka
- Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology, Department of Molecular Cell Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-0845 Japan
| | - Satoshi Ogasawara
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, 263-8522 Japan.,Molecular Chirality Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, 263-8522 Japan.,Membrane Protein Research and Molecular Chirality Research Centers, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Kei Nanatani
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-0845 Japan.,Structural Biology Group, Advanced Research Center for Innovations in Next-Generation Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8573, Japan
| | - Keietsu Abe
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-0845 Japan.,Microbial Genomics Laboratory, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan
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10
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Kalli AC, Reithmeier RAF. Organization and Dynamics of the Red Blood Cell Band 3 Anion Exchanger SLC4A1: Insights From Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Front Physiol 2022; 13:817945. [PMID: 35283786 PMCID: PMC8914234 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.817945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have provided new insights into the organization and dynamics of the red blood cell Band 3 anion exchanger (AE1, SLC4A1). Band 3, like many solute carriers, works by an alternating access mode of transport where the protein rapidly (104/s) changes its conformation between outward and inward-facing states via a transient occluded anion-bound intermediate. While structural studies of membrane proteins usually reveal valuable structural information, these studies provide a static view often in the presence of detergents. Membrane transporters are embedded in a lipid bilayer and associated lipids play a role in their folding and function. In this review, we highlight MD simulations of Band 3 in realistic lipid bilayers that revealed specific lipid and protein interactions and were used to re-create a model of the Wright (Wr) blood group antigen complex of Band 3 and Glycophorin A. Current MD studies of Band 3 and related transporters are focused on describing the trajectory of substrate binding and translocation in real time. A structure of the intact Band 3 protein has yet to be achieved experimentally, but cryo-electron microscopy in combination with MD simulations holds promise to capture the conformational changes associated with anion transport in exquisite molecular detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antreas C. Kalli
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Astbury Center for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Reinhart A. F. Reithmeier
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Reinhart A. F. Reithmeier,
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11
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Butan C, Song Q, Bai JP, Tan WJT, Navaratnam D, Santos-Sacchi J. Single particle cryo-EM structure of the outer hair cell motor protein prestin. Nat Commun 2022; 13:290. [PMID: 35022426 PMCID: PMC8755724 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27915-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian outer hair cell (OHC) protein prestin (Slc26a5) differs from other Slc26 family members due to its unique piezoelectric-like property that drives OHC electromotility, the putative mechanism for cochlear amplification. Here, we use cryo-electron microscopy to determine prestin’s structure at 3.6 Å resolution. Prestin is structurally similar to the anion transporter Slc26a9. It is captured in an inward-open state which may reflect prestin’s contracted state. Two well-separated transmembrane (TM) domains and two cytoplasmic sulfate transporter and anti-sigma factor antagonist (STAS) domains form a swapped dimer. The transmembrane domains consist of 14 transmembrane segments organized in two 7+7 inverted repeats, an architecture first observed in the bacterial symporter UraA. Mutation of prestin’s chloride binding site removes salicylate competition with anions while retaining the prestin characteristic displacement currents (Nonlinear Capacitance), undermining the extrinsic voltage sensor hypothesis for prestin function. Prestin, expressed in outer hair cell (OHC), belongs to the Slc26 transporter family and functions as a voltage-driven motor that drives OHC electromotility. Here, the authors report cryo-EM structure and characterization of gerbil prestin, with insights into its mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Butan
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Qiang Song
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jun-Ping Bai
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Winston J T Tan
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Dhasakumar Navaratnam
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Joseph Santos-Sacchi
- Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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12
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Holzhüter K, Geertsma ER. Uniport, Not Proton-Symport, in a Non-Mammalian SLC23 Transporter. J Mol Biol 2021; 434:167393. [PMID: 34896363 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
SLC23 family members are transporters of either nucleobases or ascorbate. While the mammalian SLC23 ascorbate transporters are sodium-coupled, the non-mammalian nucleobase transporters have been proposed, but not formally shown, to be proton-coupled symporters. This assignment is exclusively based on in vivo transport assays using protonophores. Here, by establishing the first in vitro transport assay for this protein family, we demonstrate that a representative member of the SLC23 nucleobase transporters operates as a uniporter instead. We explain these conflicting assignments by identifying a critical role of uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, the enzyme converting uracil to UMP, in driving uracil uptake in vivo. Detailed characterization of uracil phosphoribosyltransferase reveals that the sharp reduction of uracil uptake in whole cells in presence of protonophores is caused by acidification-induced enzyme inactivation. The SLC23 family therefore consists of both uniporters and symporters in line with the structurally related SLC4 and SLC26 families that have previously been demonstrated to accommodate both transport modes as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Holzhüter
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eric R Geertsma
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, D-01307 Dresden, Germany.
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13
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Jennings ML. Cell Physiology and Molecular Mechanism of Anion Transport by Erythrocyte Band 3/AE1. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2021; 321:C1028-C1059. [PMID: 34669510 PMCID: PMC8714990 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00275.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The major transmembrane protein of the red blood cell, known as band 3, AE1, and SLC4A1, has two main functions: 1) catalysis of Cl-/HCO3- exchange, one of the steps in CO2 excretion; 2) anchoring the membrane skeleton. This review summarizes the 150 year history of research on red cell anion transport and band 3 as an experimental system for studying membrane protein structure and ion transport mechanisms. Important early findings were that red cell Cl- transport is a tightly coupled 1:1 exchange and band 3 is labeled by stilbenesulfonate derivatives that inhibit anion transport. Biochemical studies showed that the protein is dimeric or tetrameric (paired dimers) and that there is one stilbenedisulfonate binding site per subunit of the dimer. Transport kinetics and inhibitor characteristics supported the idea that the transporter acts by an alternating access mechanism with intrinsic asymmetry. The sequence of band 3 cDNA provided a framework for detailed study of protein topology and amino acid residues important for transport. The identification of genetic variants produced insights into the roles of band 3 in red cell abnormalities and distal renal tubular acidosis. The publication of the membrane domain crystal structure made it possible to propose concrete molecular models of transport. Future research directions include improving our understanding of the transport mechanism at the molecular level and of the integrative relationships among band 3, hemoglobin, carbonic anhydrase, and gradients (both transmembrane and subcellular) of HCO3-, Cl-, O2, CO2, pH, and NO metabolites during pulmonary and systemic capillary gas exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Jennings
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
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14
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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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15
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Comparative Molecular Dynamics Investigation of the Electromotile Hearing Protein Prestin. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158318. [PMID: 34361083 PMCID: PMC8347359 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian protein prestin is expressed in the lateral membrane wall of the cochlear hair outer cells and is responsible for the electromotile response of the basolateral membrane, following hyperpolarisation or depolarisation of the cells. Its impairment marks the onset of severe diseases, like non-syndromic deafness. Several studies have pointed out possible key roles of residues located in the Transmembrane Domain (TMD) that differentiate mammalian prestins as incomplete transporters from the other proteins belonging to the same solute-carrier (SLC) superfamily, which are classified as complete transporters. Here, we exploit the homology of a prototypical incomplete transporter (rat prestin, rPres) and a complete transporter (zebrafish prestin, zPres) with target structures in the outward open and inward open conformations. The resulting models are then embedded in a model membrane and investigated via a rigorous molecular dynamics simulation protocol. The resulting trajectories are analyzed to obtain quantitative descriptors of the equilibration phase and to assess a structural comparison between proteins in different states, and between different proteins in the same state. Our study clearly identifies a network of key residues at the interface between the gate and the core domains of prestin that might be responsible for the conformational change observed in complete transporters and hindered in incomplete transporters. In addition, we study the pathway of Cl− ions in the presence of an applied electric field towards their putative binding site in the gate domain. Based on our simulations, we propose a tilt and shift mechanism of the helices surrounding the ion binding cavity as the working principle of the reported conformational changes in complete transporters.
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16
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Structure and function of an Arabidopsis thaliana sulfate transporter. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4455. [PMID: 34294705 PMCID: PMC8298490 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24778-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant sulfate transporters (SULTR) mediate absorption and distribution of sulfate (SO42-) and are essential for plant growth; however, our understanding of their structures and functions remains inadequate. Here we present the structure of a SULTR from Arabidopsis thaliana, AtSULTR4;1, in complex with SO42- at an overall resolution of 2.8 Å. AtSULTR4;1 forms a homodimer and has a structural fold typical of the SLC26 family of anion transporters. The bound SO42- is coordinated by side-chain hydroxyls and backbone amides, and further stabilized electrostatically by the conserved Arg393 and two helix dipoles. Proton and SO42- are co-transported by AtSULTR4;1 and a proton gradient significantly enhances SO42- transport. Glu347, which is ~7 Å from the bound SO42-, is required for H+-driven transport. The cytosolic STAS domain interacts with transmembrane domains, and deletion of the STAS domain or mutations to the interface compromises dimer formation and reduces SO42- transport, suggesting a regulatory function of the STAS domain.
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17
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Badior KE, Casey JR. Large conformational dynamics in Band 3 protein: Significance for erythrocyte senescence signalling. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1863:183678. [PMID: 34175296 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Band 3 (Anion Exchanger 1, AE1), the predominant protein of erythrocyte membranes, facilitates Cl-/HCO3- exchange and anchors the plasma membrane to the cytoskeleton. The Band 3 crystal structure revealed the amino acid 812-830 region as intracellular, conflicting with protein chemical data that suggested extracellular disposition. Further, circulating senescent cell auto-antibody that cannot enter erythrocytes, binds two regions of Band 3: residues 538-554 and 812-830. To reconcile this discrepancy, we assessed localization of residues 812-830 with Band 3 expressed in HEK293 cells and human erythrocytes, using chemical labeling probes and an antibody against residues 812-830. Antibody and chemical probes revealed reorientation of 812-830 region between extracellular and intracellular. This dramatic conformational change is an intrinsic property of the Band 3 molecule, occurring when expressed in HEK293 cells and without the damage that occurs during erythrocyte circulation. Conditions used to crystallize Band 3 for structural determination did not alter conformational dynamics. Collectively, these data reveal large Band 3 conformational dynamics localized to a region previously identified as an erythrocyte senescence epitope. Surface exposure of the senescence epitope (812-830), limited by conformational dynamics, may act as the "molecular clock" in erythrocyte senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Badior
- Department of Biochemistry, Membrane Protein Disease Research Group, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Joseph R Casey
- Department of Biochemistry, Membrane Protein Disease Research Group, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada.
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18
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Elevator-type mechanisms of membrane transport. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 48:1227-1241. [PMID: 32369548 PMCID: PMC7329351 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Membrane transporters are integral membrane proteins that mediate the passage of solutes across lipid bilayers. These proteins undergo conformational transitions between outward- and inward-facing states, which lead to alternating access of the substrate-binding site to the aqueous environment on either side of the membrane. Dozens of different transporter families have evolved, providing a wide variety of structural solutions to achieve alternating access. A sub-set of structurally diverse transporters operate by mechanisms that are collectively named 'elevator-type'. These transporters have one common characteristic: they contain a distinct protein domain that slides across the membrane as a rigid body, and in doing so it 'drags" the transported substrate along. Analysis of the global conformational changes that take place in membrane transporters using elevator-type mechanisms reveals that elevator-type movements can be achieved in more than one way. Molecular dynamics simulations and experimental data help to understand how lipid bilayer properties may affect elevator movements and vice versa.
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19
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Sampson CDD, Stewart MJ, Mindell JA, Mulligan C. Solvent accessibility changes in a Na +-dependent C 4-dicarboxylate transporter suggest differential substrate effects in a multistep mechanism. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:18524-18538. [PMID: 33087444 PMCID: PMC7939474 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The divalent anion sodium symporter (DASS) family (SLC13) plays critical roles in metabolic homeostasis, influencing many processes, including fatty acid synthesis, insulin resistance, and adiposity. DASS transporters catalyze the Na+-driven concentrative uptake of Krebs cycle intermediates and sulfate into cells; disrupting their function can protect against age-related metabolic diseases and can extend lifespan. An inward-facing crystal structure and an outward-facing model of a bacterial DASS family member, VcINDY from Vibrio cholerae, predict an elevator-like transport mechanism involving a large rigid body movement of the substrate-binding site. How substrate binding influences the conformational state of VcINDY is currently unknown. Here, we probe the interaction between substrate binding and protein conformation by monitoring substrate-induced solvent accessibility changes of broadly distributed positions in VcINDY using a site-specific alkylation strategy. Our findings reveal that accessibility to all positions tested is modulated by the presence of substrates, with the majority becoming less accessible in the presence of saturating concentrations of both Na+ and succinate. We also observe separable effects of Na+ and succinate binding at several positions suggesting distinct effects of the two substrates. Furthermore, accessibility changes to a solely succinate-sensitive position suggests that substrate binding is a low-affinity, ordered process. Mapping these accessibility changes onto the structures of VcINDY suggests that Na+ binding drives the transporter into an as-yet-unidentified conformational state, involving rearrangement of the substrate-binding site-associated re-entrant hairpin loops. These findings provide insight into the mechanism of VcINDY, which is currently the only structurally characterized representative of the entire DASS family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor D D Sampson
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J Stewart
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph A Mindell
- Membrane Transport Biophysics Section, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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20
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Su P, Wu H, Wang M, Cai L, Liu Y, Chen LM. IRBIT activates NBCe1-B by releasing the auto-inhibition module from the transmembrane domain. J Physiol 2020; 599:1151-1172. [PMID: 33237573 PMCID: PMC7898672 DOI: 10.1113/jp280578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Key points The electrogenic Na+/HCO3−cotransporter NBCe1‐B is widely expressed in many tissues, including pancreas, submandibular gland, brain, heart, etc. NBCe1‐B has very low activity under basal condition due to auto‐inhibition, but can be fully activated by protein interaction with the IP3R‐binding protein released with inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IRBIT). The structural components of the auto‐inhibition domain and the IRBIT‐binding domain of NBCe1‐B are finely characterized based on systematic mutations in the present study and data from previous studies. Reducing negative charges on the cytosol side of the transmembrane domain greatly decreases the magnitude of the auto‐inhibition of NBCe1‐B. We propose that the auto‐inhibition domain functions as a brake module that inactivates NBCe1‐B by binding to, via electrostatic attraction, the transmembrane domain; IRBIT activates NBCe1‐B by releasing the brake from the transmembrane domain via competitive binding to the auto‐inhibition domain.
Abstract The electrogenic Na+/HCO3− cotransporter NBCe1‐B is widely expressed in many tissues in the body. NBCe1‐B exhibits only basal activity due to the action of the auto‐inhibition domain (AID) in its unique amino‐terminus. However, NBCe1‐B can be activated by interaction with the IP3R‐binding protein released with inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IRBIT). Here, we investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the auto‐inhibition of NBCe1‐B and its activation by IRBIT. The IRBIT‐binding domain (IBD) of NBCe1‐B spans residues 1−52, essentially consisting of two arms, one negatively charged (residues 1−24) and the other positively charged (residues 40−52). The AID mainly spans residues 40−85, overlapping with the IBD in the positively charged arm. The magnitude of auto‐inhibition of NBCe1‐B is greatly decreased by manipulating the positively charged residues in the AID or by replacing a set of negatively charged residues with neutral ones in the transmembrane domain. The interaction between IRBIT and NBCe1‐B is abolished by mutating a set of negatively charged Asp/Glu residues (to Asn/Gln) plus a set of Ser/Thr residues (to Ala) in the PEST domain of IRBIT. However, this interaction is not affected by replacing the same set of Ser/Thr residues in the PEST domain with Asp. We propose that: (1) the AID, acting as a brake, binds to the transmembrane domain via electrostatic interaction to slow down NBCe1‐B; (2) IRBIT activates NBCe1‐B by releasing the brake from the transmembrane domain. The electrogenic Na+/HCO3−cotransporter NBCe1‐B is widely expressed in many tissues, including pancreas, submandibular gland, brain, heart, etc. NBCe1‐B has very low activity under basal condition due to auto‐inhibition, but can be fully activated by protein interaction with the IP3R‐binding protein released with inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IRBIT). The structural components of the auto‐inhibition domain and the IRBIT‐binding domain of NBCe1‐B are finely characterized based on systematic mutations in the present study and data from previous studies. Reducing negative charges on the cytosol side of the transmembrane domain greatly decreases the magnitude of the auto‐inhibition of NBCe1‐B. We propose that the auto‐inhibition domain functions as a brake module that inactivates NBCe1‐B by binding to, via electrostatic attraction, the transmembrane domain; IRBIT activates NBCe1‐B by releasing the brake from the transmembrane domain via competitive binding to the auto‐inhibition domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Su
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science & Technology, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Han Wu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science & Technology, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science & Technology, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lu Cai
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science & Technology, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science & Technology, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Li-Ming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science & Technology, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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21
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Functional (un)cooperativity in elevator transport proteins. Biochem Soc Trans 2020; 48:1047-1055. [PMID: 32573703 DOI: 10.1042/bst20190970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The activity of enzymes is subject to regulation at multiple levels. Cooperativity, the interconnected behavior of active sites within a protein complex, directly affects protein activity. Cooperativity is a mode of regulation that requires neither extrinsic factors nor protein modifications. Instead, it allows enzymes themselves to modulate reaction rates. Cooperativity is an important regulatory mechanism in soluble proteins, but also examples of cooperative membrane proteins have been described. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on interprotomer cooperativity in elevator-type proteins, a class of membrane transporters characterized by large rigid-body movements perpendicular to the membrane, and highlight well-studied examples and experimental approaches.
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22
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Jin Y, Liang Q, Tieleman DP. Interactions between Band 3 Anion Exchanger and Lipid Nanodomains in Ternary Lipid Bilayers: Atomistic Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:3054-3064. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c01055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yapan Jin
- Center for Statistical and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics and Department of Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, P. R. China
| | - Qing Liang
- Center for Statistical and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics and Department of Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, P. R. China
| | - D. Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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23
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Walter JD, Sawicka M, Dutzler R. Cryo-EM structures and functional characterization of murine Slc26a9 reveal mechanism of uncoupled chloride transport. eLife 2019; 8:46986. [PMID: 31339488 PMCID: PMC6656431 DOI: 10.7554/elife.46986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithelial anion transporter SLC26A9 contributes to airway surface hydration and gastric acid production. Colocalizing with CFTR, SLC26A9 has been proposed as a target for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. To provide molecular details of its transport mechanism, we present cryo-EM structures and a functional characterization of murine Slc26a9. These structures define the general architecture of eukaryotic SLC26 family members and reveal an unusual mode of oligomerization which relies predominantly on the cytosolic STAS domain. Our data illustrates conformational transitions of Slc26a9, supporting a rapid alternate-access mechanism which mediates uncoupled chloride transport with negligible bicarbonate or sulfate permeability. The characterization of structure-guided mutants illuminates the properties of the ion transport path, including a selective anion binding site located in the center of a mobile module within the transmembrane domain. This study thus provides a structural foundation for the understanding of the entire SLC26 family and potentially facilitates their therapeutic exploitation. Many processes in the human body are regulated by chloride and other charged particles (known as ions) moving in and out of cells. Each cell is surrounded by a membrane barrier, which prevents ions from entering or exiting. Therefore, to control the levels of ions inside the cell, specific proteins in the membrane act as channels or transporters to provide routes for the ions to pass through the membrane. Channel proteins form pores that, when open, allow a steady stream of ions to pass through the membrane. Transporter proteins, on the other hand, generally contain a pocket that is only accessible from one side of the membrane. When individual ions enter this pocket the transporter changes shape. This causes the entrance of the pocket to close and then re-open on the other side of the membrane. Inside the lung, an ion channel known as CFTR provides a route for chloride ions to move out of cells, which helps clear harmful material from the airways. Mutations affecting this protein cause the mucus lining the airways to become very sticky, leading to a severe disease known as cystic fibrosis. CFTR works together with another protein that is also found in the membrane, called SLC26A9. Previous studies have suggested that SLC26A9 also allows chloride ions to pass through the membrane. It was not clear, however, if SLC26A9 operates as an ion channel or a transporter protein, or how the protein is arranged in the membrane. Now, Walter, Sawicka and Dutzler combined two techniques known as cryo-electron microscopy and patch-clamp electrophysiology to reveal the detailed three-dimensional structure of the mouse version of SLC26A9, which is highly similar to the human form. The experiments found that mouse SLC26A9 proteins form pairs in the membrane referred to as homodimers, which arranged themselves in an unexpected way. Further investigation into the structure of these homodimers suggests that despite having many channel-like properties, SLC26A9 operates as a fast transporter, rather than a true channel. These findings help us understand the role of SLC26A9 and other similar proteins in the lung and other parts of the body. In the future it may be possible to develop drugs that target SLC26A9 to treat cystic fibrosis and other severe lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D Walter
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marta Sawicka
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Raimund Dutzler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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24
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Chang YN, Jaumann EA, Reichel K, Hartmann J, Oliver D, Hummer G, Joseph B, Geertsma ER. Structural basis for functional interactions in dimers of SLC26 transporters. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2032. [PMID: 31048734 PMCID: PMC6497670 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10001-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The SLC26 family of transporters maintains anion equilibria in all kingdoms of life. The family shares a 7 + 7 transmembrane segments inverted repeat architecture with the SLC4 and SLC23 families, but holds a regulatory STAS domain in addition. While the only experimental SLC26 structure is monomeric, SLC26 proteins form structural and functional dimers in the lipid membrane. Here we resolve the structure of an SLC26 dimer embedded in a lipid membrane and characterize its functional relevance by combining PELDOR/DEER distance measurements and biochemical studies with MD simulations and spin-label ensemble refinement. Our structural model reveals a unique interface different from the SLC4 and SLC23 families. The functionally relevant STAS domain is no prerequisite for dimerization. Characterization of heterodimers indicates that protomers in the dimer functionally interact. The combined structural and functional data define the framework for a mechanistic understanding of functional cooperativity in SLC26 dimers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Ning Chang
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eva A Jaumann
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Katrin Reichel
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Str. 3, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Julia Hartmann
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Philipps University, 35037, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Oliver
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Philipps University, 35037, Marburg, Germany.,DFG Research Training Group, Membrane Plasticity in Tissue Development and Remodeling, Philipps University, GRK 2213, Philipps, Germany
| | - Gerhard Hummer
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Str. 3, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,Institute of Biophysics, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 1, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Benesh Joseph
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,Institute of Biophysics, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 1, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Eric R Geertsma
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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Jennings ML. Carriers, exchangers, and cotransporters in the first 100 years of the Journal of General Physiology. J Gen Physiol 2018; 150:1063-1080. [PMID: 30030301 PMCID: PMC6080889 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201812078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Jennings reviews the many contributions of JGP articles to our current understanding of solute transporter mechanisms. Transporters, pumps, and channels are proteins that catalyze the movement of solutes across membranes. The single-solute carriers, coupled exchangers, and coupled cotransporters that are collectively known as transporters are distinct from conductive ion channels, water channels, and ATP-hydrolyzing pumps. The main conceptual framework for studying transporter mechanisms is the alternating access model, which comprises substrate binding and release events on each side of the permeability barrier and translocation events involving conformational changes between inward-facing and outward-facing conformational states. In 1948, the Journal of General Physiology began to publish work that focused on the erythrocyte glucose transporter—the first transporter to be characterized kinetically—followed by articles on the rates, stoichiometries, asymmetries, voltage dependences, and regulation of coupled exchangers and cotransporters beginning in the 1960s. After the dawn of cDNA cloning and sequencing in the 1980s, heterologous expression systems and site-directed mutagenesis allowed identification of the functional roles of specific amino acid residues. In the past two decades, structures of transport proteins have made it possible to propose specific models for transporter function at the molecular level. Here, we review the contribution of JGP articles to our current understanding of solute transporter mechanisms. Whether the topic has been kinetics, energetics, regulation, mutagenesis, or structure-based modeling, a common feature of these articles has been a quantitative, mechanistic approach, leading to lasting insights into the functions of transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Jennings
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
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Kalli AC, Reithmeier RAF. Interaction of the human erythrocyte Band 3 anion exchanger 1 (AE1, SLC4A1) with lipids and glycophorin A: Molecular organization of the Wright (Wr) blood group antigen. PLoS Comput Biol 2018; 14:e1006284. [PMID: 30011272 PMCID: PMC6080803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Band 3 (AE1, SLC4A1) membrane protein is found in red blood cells and in kidney where it functions as an electro-neutral chloride/bicarbonate exchanger. In this study, we have used molecular dynamics simulations to provide the first realistic model of the dimeric membrane domain of human Band 3 in an asymmetric lipid bilayer containing a full complement of phospholipids, including phosphatidylinositol 4,5–bisphosphate (PIP2) and cholesterol, and its partner membrane protein Glycophorin A (GPA). The simulations show that the annular layer in the inner leaflet surrounding Band 3 was enriched in phosphatidylserine and PIP2 molecules. Cholesterol was also enriched around Band 3 but also at the dimer interface. The interaction of these lipids with specific sites on Band 3 may play a role in the folding and function of this anion transport membrane protein. GPA associates with Band 3 to form the Wright (Wr) blood group antigen, an interaction that involves an ionic bond between Glu658 in Band 3 and Arg61 in GPA. We were able to recreate this complex by performing simulations to allow the dimeric transmembrane portion of GPA to interact with Band 3 in a model membrane. Large-scale simulations showed that the GPA dimer can bridge Band 3 dimers resulting in the dynamic formation of long strands of alternating Band 3 and GPA dimers. Human Band 3 (AE1, SLC4A1), an abundant 911 amino acid glycoprotein, catalyzes the exchange of bicarbonate and chloride across the red blood cell membrane, a process necessary for efficient respiration. Malfunction of Band 3 leads to inherited diseases such as Southeast Asian Ovalocytosis, hereditary spherocytosis and distal renal tubular acidosis. Despite much available structural and functional data about Band 3, key questions about the conformational changes associated with transport and the molecular details of its interaction with lipids and other proteins remain unanswered. In this study, we have used computer simulations to investigate the dynamics of Band 3 in lipid bilayers that resemble the red blood cell plasma membrane. Our results suggest that negatively charged phospholipids and cholesterol interact strongly with Band 3 forming an annulus around the protein. Glycophorin A (GPA) interacts with Band 3 to form the Wright (Wr) blood group antigen. We were able to recreate this complex and show that GPA promotes the clustering of Band 3 in red blood cell membranes. Understanding the molecular details of the interaction of Band 3 with GPA has provided new insights into the nature of the Wright blood group antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antreas C. Kalli
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Abbas YM, Toye AM, Rubinstein JL, Reithmeier RA. Band 3 function and dysfunction in a structural context. Curr Opin Hematol 2018; 25:163-170. [DOI: 10.1097/moh.0000000000000418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Gordon SE. Looking in the rear-view mirror as we anticipate another 100 years. J Gen Physiol 2018; 150:169-174. [PMID: 29367199 PMCID: PMC5806681 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201811995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
As JGP approaches its centenary, we consider how physiology has changed over the last 100 years and reflect on the journal's role in the physiology community..
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Sedwick C. A new model for an old friend. J Gen Physiol 2017; 149:1059. [PMID: 29167181 PMCID: PMC5715913 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201711941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
JGP study suggests the anion exchanger AE1 operates via an elevator-like mechanism.
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