Mutations within the first LSGGQ motif of Ste6p cause defects in a-factor transport and mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Heterologous expression of thuricin CD immunity genes in Listeria monocytogenes

Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized peptides that can have a narrow or broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Bacteriocin producers typically possess dedicated immunity systems that often consist of an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter system and/or a dedicated immunity protein. Here we investigated the genes responsible for immunity to thuricin CD, a narrow-spectrum two-peptide sactibiotic produced by Bacillus thuringiensis DPC6431. Heterologous expression of putative thuricin CD immunity determinants allowed us to identify and investigate the relative importance of the individual genes and gene products that contribute to thuricin CD immunity. We established that TrnF and TrnG are the individual components of an ABC transporter system that provides immunity to thuricin CD. We also identified a hitherto overlooked open reading frame located upstream of trnF predicted to encode a 79-amino-acid transmembrane protein. We designated this newly discovered gene trnI and established that TrnI alone can provide protection against thuricin CD.

Functionally Relevant Residues of Cdr1p: A Multidrug ABC Transporter of Human Pathogenic Candida albicans

Reduced intracellular accumulation of drugs (due to rapid efflux) mediated by the efflux pump proteins belonging to ABC (ATP Binding Cassette) and MFS (Major Facilitators) superfamily is one of the most common strategies adopted by multidrug resistance (MDR) pathogenic yeasts. To combat MDR, it is essential to understand the structure and function of these transporters so that inhibitors/modulators to these can be developed. The sequence alignments of the ABC transporters reveal selective divergence within much conserved domains of Nucleotide-Binding Domains (NBDs) which is unique to all fungal transporters. Recently, the role of conserved but divergent residues of Candida Drug Resistance 1 (CDR1), an ABC drug transporter of human pathogenic Candida albicans, has been examined with regard to ATP binding and hydrolysis. In this paper, we focus on some of the recent advances on the relevance of divergent and conserved amino acids of CaCdr1p and also discuss as to how drug interacts with Trans Membrane Domains (TMDs) residues for its extrusion from MDR cells.

Divergent signature motifs of nucleotide binding domains of ABC multidrug transporter, CaCdr1p of pathogenic Candida albicans, are functionally asymmetric and noninterchangeable

Nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) of the multidrug transporter of Candida albicans, CaCdr1p, possess unique divergent amino acids in their conserved motifs. For example, NBD1 (N-terminal-NBD) possesses conserved signature motifs, while the same motif is divergent in NBD2 (C-terminal-NBD). In this study, we have evaluated the contribution of these conserved and divergent signature motifs of CaCdr1p in ATP catalysis and drug transport. By employing site-directed mutagenesis, we made three categories of mutant variants. These included mutants where all the signature motif residues were replaced with either alanines or mutants with exchanged equipositional residues to mimic the conservancy and degeneracy in opposite domain. In addition, a set of mutants where signature motifs were swapped to have variants with either both the conserved or degenerated entire signature motif. We observed that conserved and equipositional residues of NBD1 and NBD2 and swapped signature motif mutants showed high susceptibility to all the tested drugs with simultaneous abrogation in ATPase and R6G efflux activities. However, some of the mutants displayed a selective increase in susceptibility to the drugs. Notably, none of the mutant variants and WT-CaCdr1p showed any difference in drug and nucleotide binding. Our mutational analyses show not only that certain conserved residues of NBD1 signature sequence (S304, G306, and E307) are important in ATP hydrolysis and R6G efflux but also that a few divergent residues (N1002 and E1004) of NBD2 signature motif have evolved to be functionally relevant and are not interchangeable. Taken together, our data suggest that the signature motifs of CaCdr1p, whether it is divergent or conserved, are nonexchangeable and are functionally critical for ATP hydrolysis.

Thuricin CD, a posttranslationally modified bacteriocin with a narrow spectrum of activity against Clostridium difficile

The last decade has seen numerous outbreaks of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD), which presented significant challenges for healthcare facilities worldwide. We have identified and purified thuricin CD, a two-component antimicrobial that shows activity against C. difficile in the nanomolar range. Thuricin CD is produced by Bacillus thuringiensis DPC 6431, a bacterial strain isolated from a human fecal sample, and it consists of two distinct peptides, Trn-alpha and Trn-beta, that act synergistically to kill a wide range of clinical C. difficile isolates, including ribotypes commonly associated with CDAD (e.g., ribotype 027). However, this bacteriocin thuricin CD has little impact on most other genera, including many gastrointestinal commensals. Complete amino acid sequencing using infusion tandem mass spectrometry indicated that each peptide is posttranslationally modified at its respective 21st, 25th, and 28th residues. Solution NMR studies on [(13)C,(15)N] Trn-alpha and [(13)C,(15)N]Trn-beta were used to characterize these modifications. Analysis of multidimensional NOESY data shows that specific cysteines are linked to the alpha-carbons of the modified residues, forming three sulfur to alpha-carbon bridges. Complete sequencing of the thuricin CD gene cluster revealed genes capable of encoding two S'-adenosylmethionine proteins that are characteristically associated with unusual posttranslational modifications. Thuricin CD is a two-component antimicrobial peptide system with sulfur to alpha-carbon linkages, and it may have potential as a targeted therapy in the treatment of CDAD while also reducing collateral impact on the commensal flora.

Mutations at the signature sequence of CFTR create a Cd(2+)-gated chloride channel

The canonical sequence LSGGQ, also known as the signature sequence, defines the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter superfamily. Crystallographic studies reveal that the signature sequence, together with the Walker A and Walker B motifs, forms the ATP-binding pocket upon dimerization of the two nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) in a head-to-tail configuration. The importance of the signature sequence is attested by the fact that a glycine to aspartate mutation (i.e., G551D) in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) results in a severe phenotype of cystic fibrosis. We previously showed that the G551D mutation completely eliminates ATP-dependent gating of the CFTR chloride channel. Here, we report that micromolar [Cd(2+)] can dramatically increase the activity of G551D-CFTR in the absence of ATP. This effect of Cd(2+) is not seen in wild-type channels or in G551A. Pretreatment of G551D-CFTR with the cysteine modification reagent 2-aminoethyl methane thiosulfonate hydrobromide protects the channel from Cd(2+) activation, suggesting an involvement of endogenous cysteine residue(s) in mediating this effect of Cd(2+). The mutants G551C, L548C, and S549C, all in the signature sequence of CFTR's NBD1, show robust response to Cd(2+). On the other hand, negligible effects of Cd(2+) were seen with T547C, Q552C, and R553C, indicating that a specific region of the signature sequence is involved in transmitting the signal of Cd(2+) binding to the gate. Collectively, these results suggest that the effect of Cd(2+) is mediated by a metal bridge formation between yet to be identified cysteine residue(s) and the engineered aspartate or cysteine in the signature sequence. We propose that the signature sequence serves as a switch that transduces the signal of ligand binding to the channel gate.

Function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic ABC proteins in lipid transport

ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic origins are implicated in the transport of lipids. In humans, members of the ABC protein families A, B, C, D and G are mutated in a number of lipid transport and metabolism disorders, such as Tangier disease, Stargardt syndrome, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, adrenoleukodystrophy or sitosterolemia. Studies employing transfection, overexpression, reconstitution, deletion and inhibition indicate the transbilayer transport of endogenous lipids and their analogs by some of these proteins, modulating lipid transbilayer asymmetry. Other proteins appear to be involved in the exposure of specific lipids on the exoplasmic leaflet, allowing their uptake by acceptors and further transport to specific sites. Additionally, lipid transport by ABC proteins is currently being studied in non-human eukaryotes, e.g. in sea urchin, trypanosomatides, arabidopsis and yeast, as well as in prokaryotes such as Escherichia coli and Lactococcus lactis. Here, we review current information about the (putative) role of both pro- and eukaryotic ABC proteins in the various phenomena associated with lipid transport. Besides providing a better understanding of phenomena like lipid metabolism, circulation, multidrug resistance, hormonal processes, fertilization, vision and signalling, studies on pro- and eukaryotic ABC proteins might eventually enable us to put a name on some of the proteins mediating transbilayer lipid transport in various membranes of cells and organelles. It must be emphasized, however, that there are still many uncertainties concerning the functions and mechanisms of ABC proteins interacting with lipids. In particular, further purification and reconstitution experiments with an unambiguous role of ATP hydrolysis are needed to demonstrate a clear involvement of ABC proteins in lipid transbilayer asymmetry.

Functional non-equivalence of ATP-binding cassette signature motifs in the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP)

The transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) is a key component of the cellular immune system. As a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily, TAP hydrolyzes ATP to energize the transport of peptides from the cytosol into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. TAP is composed of TAP1 and TAP2, each containing a transmembrane domain and a nucleotide-binding domain (NBD). Here we investigated the role of the ABC signature motif (C-loop) on the functional non-equivalence of the NBDs, which contain a canonical C-loop (LSGGQ) for TAP1 and a degenerate C-loop (LAAGQ) for TAP2. Mutation of the leucine or glycine (LSGGQ) in TAP1 fully abolished peptide transport. However, TAP complexes with equivalent mutations in TAP2 still showed residual peptide transport activity. To elucidate the origin of the asymmetry of the NBDs of TAP, we further examined TAP complexes with exchanged C-loops. Strikingly, the chimera with two canonical C-loops showed the highest transport rate whereas the chimera with two degenerate C-loops had the lowest transport rate, demonstrating that the ABC signature motifs control peptide transport efficiency. All single site mutants and chimeras showed similar activities in peptide or ATP binding, implying that these mutations affect the ATPase activity of TAP. In addition, these results prove that the serine of the C-loop is not essential for TAP function but rather coordinates, together with other residues of the C-loop, the ATP hydrolysis in both nucleotide-binding sites.

The ABCs of Immunology: Structure and Function of TAP, the Transporter Associated with Antigen Processing

The transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) is essential for peptide delivery from the cytosol into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where these peptides are loaded on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I molecules. Loaded MHC I leave the ER and display their antigenic cargo on the cell surface to cytotoxic T cells. Subsequently, virus-infected or malignantly transformed cells can be eliminated. Here we discuss the structure, function, and mechanism of TAP as a central part of the peptide-loading complex. Furthermore, aspects of virus and tumor escape strategies are presented.

Synergy between conserved ABC signature Ser residues in P-glycoprotein catalysis

Functional roles of the two ABC signature sequences ("LSGGQ") in the N- and C-terminal nucleotide binding domains of P-glycoprotein were studied by mutating the conserved Ser residues to Ala. The two single mutants (S528A; S1173A) each impaired ATPase activity mildly, and showed generally symmetrical effects on function, consistent with equivalent mechanistic roles of the two nucleotide sites. Synergy between the two mutations when combined was remarkable and resulted in strong catalytic impairment. The Ser residues are not involved significantly in MgATP- or MgADP-binding or in interdomain communication between catalytic sites and drug binding sites. Retention of product MgADP is not the cause of reduced turnover. Mutation of Ser to Ala reduced the strength of interaction with the chemical transition state specifically, as shown by vanadate-ADP and beryllium fluoride-ADP trapping experiments. Therefore, the two conserved ABC signature motif Ser residues of P-glycoprotein cooperatively accelerate ATP hydrolysis via chemical transition state interaction. Because the transition state complex is currently believed to form in the dimerized state of the nucleotide binding domains, one may also conclude that both Ser-OH are necessary for correct formation of the dimer state.

Evidence from comparative genomics for a complete sexual cycle in the 'asexual' pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata

BACKGROUND

Candida glabrata is a pathogenic yeast of increasing medical concern. It has been regarded as asexual since it was first described in 1917, yet phylogenetic analyses have revealed that it is more closely related to sexual yeasts than other Candida species. We show here that the C. glabrata genome contains many genes apparently involved in sexual reproduction.

RESULTS

By genome survey sequencing, we find that genes involved in mating and meiosis are as numerous in C. glabrata as in the sexual species Kluyveromyces delphensis, which is its closest known relative. C. glabrata has a putative mating-type (MAT) locus and a pheromone gene (MFALPHA2), as well as orthologs of at least 31 other Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes that have no known roles apart from mating or meiosis, including FUS3, IME1 and SMK1.

CONCLUSIONS

We infer that C. glabrata is likely to have an undiscovered sexual stage in its life cycle, similar to that recently proposed for C. albicans. The two Candida species represent two distantly related yeast lineages that have independently become both pathogenic and 'asexual'. Parallel evolution in the two lineages as they adopted mammalian hosts resulted in separate but analogous switches from overtly sexual to cryptically sexual life cycles, possibly in response to defense by the host immune system.

Fungal ABC proteins: pleiotropic drug resistance, stress response and cellular detoxification

A number of prominent genetic diseases are caused by mutations in genes encoding ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins (Ambudkar, Gottesmann, 1998). Moreover, several mammalian ABC proteins such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp) (Gottesman et al., 1995) and multidrug-resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) (Cole, Deeley, 1998) have been implicated in multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotypes of tumor cells highly resistant to many different anticancer drugs. The characteristics of MDR phenomena include the initial resistance to a single anticancer drug, followed by the development of cross-resistance to many structurally and functionally unrelated drugs. Similar mechanisms of MDR exist in pathogenic fungi, including Candida and Aspergillus (Vanden Bossche et al., 1998), and also in parasites such as Plasmodium and Leishmania (Ambudkar, Gottesmann, 1998), as well as in many bacterial pathogens (Nikaido, 1998). To dissect the mechanisms of MDR development and to elucidate the physiological functions of ABC proteins, many efforts have been made during the past decade. Importantly, yeast orthologues of mammalian disease genes made this unicellular eukaryote an invaluable model system for studies on the molecular mechanisms of ABC proteins, in order to better understand and perhaps improve treatment of ABC gene-related disease. In this review, we provide an overview of ABC proteins and pleiotropic drug resistance in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Furthermore, we discuss the role of ABC proteins in clinical drug resistance development of certain fungal pathogens.

A novel SMC protein complex in Schizosaccharomyces pombe contains the Rad18 DNA repair protein

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, rad18 is an essential gene involved in the repair of DNA damage produced by ionizing radiation and in tolerance of UV-induced DNA damage. The Rad18 protein is a member of the SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) superfamily, and we show that, like the other SMC proteins in condensin and cohesin, Rad18 is a component of a high-molecular-weight complex. This complex contains at least six other proteins, the largest of which is Spr18, a novel SMC family member closely related to Rad18, and likely to be its heterodimeric partner. SMC proteins have ATP-binding domains at the N- and C-termini, and two extended coiled-coil domains separated by a hinge in the middle. We show that the N-terminal ATP-binding domain of Rad18 is essential for all functions, and overexpression of an N-terminal mutant has a dominant-negative effect. We have identified an important mutation (S1045A) near the C-terminus of Rad18 that separates its repair and essential roles. Potential models for the role of the Rad18-Spr18 complex during DNA repair are discussed.

Inventory and function of yeast ABC proteins: about sex, stress, pleiotropic drug and heavy metal resistance

Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the first eukaryotic organism whose complete genome sequence has been determined, uncovering the existence of numerous genes encoding proteins of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family. Fungal ABC proteins are implicated in a variety of cellular functions, ranging from clinical drug resistance development, pheromone secretion, mitochondrial function, peroxisome biogenesis, translation elongation, stress response to cellular detoxification. Moreover, some yeast ABC proteins are orthologues of human disease genes, which makes yeast an excellent model system to study the molecular mechanisms of ABC protein-mediated disease. This review provides a comprehensive discussion and update on the function and transcriptional regulation of all known ABC genes from yeasts, including those discovered in fungal pathogens.

Functional consequences of mutations in the conserved 'signature sequence' of the ATP-binding-cassette protein MalK

The binding-protein-dependent maltose-transport system of enterobacteria, a member of the ATP-binding-cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily, is composed of two integral membrane proteins, MalF and MalG, and two copies of an ATPase subunit, MalK, which hydrolyze ATP, thus energizing the translocation process. Isolated MalK displays spontaneous ATPase activity, whereas in the assembled MalFGK2 complex, reconstituted in liposomes, ATP hydrolysis requires stimulation by the substrate-loaded extracellular maltose-binding protein, MalE. The ATPase domains of ABC transporters, including MalK, share a unique sequence motif ('LSGGQ', 'signature sequence' or 'linker peptide') with as yet unknown function. To elucidate its role in the transport process, we investigated the consequences of mutations affecting two highly conserved residues (G137, Q140) in the MalK-ATPase of Salmonella typhimurium, by biochemical means. Residues corresponding to Q140 in other ABC proteins have not yet been studied. All mutant alleles (G137--> A, V, T; Q140--> L, K, N) fail to restore a functional transport complex in vivo. In addition, the mutations increase the repressing activity of MalK on other maltose-regulated genes when compared with wild-type MalK. Purified variants of G137 have lost the ability to hydrolyze ATP but still display nucleotide-binding activity, albeit with reduced affinity. Binding of MgATP results in similar protection against trypsin, as observed with wild-type, indicating no major change in protein structure. In contrast, the variants of Q140 differ in their properties, depending on the chemical nature of the replacement residue. MalKQ140L fails to hydrolyze ATP and exhibits a strong intrinsic resistance to trypsin in the absence of MgATP, suggesting a drastically altered conformation. In contrast, the purified mutant proteins Q140K and Q140N display ATPase activities and MgATP-induced changes in the tryptic cleavage pattern similar to those of wild-type. However, mutant transport complexes containing the Q140K or Q140N variants, when studied in proteoliposomes, are severely impaired in MalE-maltose-stimulated ATPase activity. These results are discussed with respect to the crystal structure of the homologous HisP protein [Hung, L.-W., Wang, I.X., Nikaido, K., Liu, P.-Q., Ames, G.F.-L. & Kim, S.-H. (1998) Nature (London) 396, 703-707] and are interpreted in favor of a role of the signature sequence in activating the hydrolyzing activity of MalK upon substrate-initiated conformational changes in MalF/MalG.

Mutations in the yeast Hsp40 chaperone protein Ydj1 cause defects in Axl1 biogenesis and pro-a-factor processing

The heat shock protein (Hsp) 70/Hsp40 chaperone system plays an essential role in cell physiology, but few of its in vivo functions are known. We report that biogenesis of Axl1p, an insulinase-like endoprotease from yeast, is dependent upon the cytosolic Hsp40 protein Ydj1p. Axl1 is responsible for cleavage of the P2 processing intermediate of pro-a-factor, a mating pheromone, to its mature form. Mutant ydj1 strains exhibited a severe mating defect, which correlated with a 90% reduction in a-factor secretion. Reduced levels of a-factor export were caused by defects in the endoproteolytic processing of P2, which led to its intracellular accumulation. Defective P2 processing correlated with the reduction in the steady state level of active Axl1p. Two mechanisms were uncovered to explain why Axl1p activity was diminished in ydj1 strains. First, AXL1 mRNA levels were reduced ydj1 strains. Second, the half-life of newly synthesized Axl1p was greatly diminished in ydj1 strains. Collectively, these data indicate Ydj1p functions to promote AXL1 mRNA accumulation and in addition appears to facilitate the proper folding of nascent Axl1p. This study is the first to suggest a role for Ydj1p in RNA metabolism and identifies Axl1p as an in vivo substrate of the Hsp70/Ydj1p chaperone system.

Mutations in the white gene of Drosophila melanogaster affecting ABC transporters that determine eye colouration

The white, brown and scarlet genes of Drosophila melanogaster encode proteins which transport guanine or tryptophan (precursors of the red and brown eye colour pigments) and belong to the ABC transporter superfamily. Current models envisage that the white and brown gene products interact to form a guanine specific transporter, while white and scarlet gene products interact to form a tryptophan transporter. In this study, we report the nucleotide sequence of the coding regions of five white alleles isolated from flies with partially pigmented eyes. In all cases, single amino acid changes were identified, highlighting residues with roles in structure and/or function of the transporters. Mutations in w(cf) (G589E) and w(sat) (F590G) occur at the extracellular end of predicted transmembrane helix 5 and correlate with a major decrease in red pigments in the eyes, while brown pigments are near wild-type levels. Therefore, those residues have a more significant role in the guanine transporter than the tryptophan transporter. Mutations identified in w(crr) (H298N) and w(101) (G243S) affect amino acids which are highly conserved among the ABC transporter superfamily within the nucleotide binding domain. Both cause substantial and similar decreases of red and brown pigments indicating that both tryptophan and guanine transport are impaired. The mutation identified in w(Et87) alters an amino acid within an intracellular loop between transmembrane helices 2 and 3 of the predicted structure. Red and brown pigments are reduced to very low levels by this mutation indicating this loop region is important for the function of both guanine and tryptophan transporters.

Phosphoinositide signaling and turnover: PtdIns(3)P, a regulator of membrane traffic, is transported to the vacuole and degraded by a process that requires lumenal vacuolar hydrolase activities

The Golgi/endosome-associated Vps34 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is essential for the sorting of hydrolases from the Golgi to the vacuole/lysosome. Upon inactivation of a temperature-conditional Vps34 kinase, cellular levels of PtdIns(3)P rapidly decrease and it has been proposed that this decrease is due to the continued turnover of PtdIns(3)P by cytoplasmic phosphatases. Here we show that mutations in VAM3 (vacuolar t-SNARE) and YPT7 (rab GTPase), which are required to direct protein and membrane delivery from prevacuolar endosomal compartments to the vacuole, dramatically increase/stabilize PtdIns(3)P levels in vivo by disrupting its turnover. We find that the majority of the total pool of PtdIns(3)P which has been synthesized, but not PtdIns(4)P, requires transport to the vacuole in order to be turned over. Unexpectedly, strains with impaired vacuolar hydrolase activity accumulate 4- to 5-fold higher PtdIns(3)P levels than wild-type cells, suggesting that lumenal vacuolar lipase and/or phosphatase activities degrade PtdIns(3)P. Because vacuolar hydrolases act in the lumen, PtdIns(3)P is likely to be transferred from the cytoplasmic membrane leaflet where it is synthesized, to the lumen of the vacuole. Interestingly, mutants that stabilize PtdIns(3)P accumulate small uniformly-sized vesicles (40-50 nm) within prevacuolar endosomes (multivesicular bodies) or the vacuole lumen. Based on these and other observations, we propose that PtdIns(3)P is degraded by an unexpected mechanism which involves the sorting of PtdIns(3)P into vesicles generated by invagination of the limiting membrane of the endosome or vacuole, ultimately delivering the phosphoinositide into the lumen of the compartment where it can be degraded by the resident hydrolases.

Functional assays for analysis of yeast ste6 mutants

As a member of the ABC superfamily, STE6 is unique in that it has a well-characterized substrate, a-factor, and can be easily manipulated in the yeast system. Functional assays have been extensively used, and methods to examine trafficking and stability of STE6 are well established. In addition, STE6 chimeras and ste6 deletion strains are useful for the analysis of many nonyeast ABC proteins. Continuing studies of STE6 are expected to aid in the identification of novel cellular components involved in the trafficking and functioning of not only STE6, but of other members of the ABC superfamily as well.

ATP-binding-cassette (ABC) transport systems: functional and structural aspects of the ATP-hydrolyzing subunits/domains

Members of the superfamily of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding-cassette (ABC) transport systems couple the hydrolysis of ATP to the translocation of solutes across a biological membrane. Recognized by their common modular organization and two sequence motifs that constitute a nucleotide binding fold, ABC transporters are widespread among all living organisms. They accomplish not only the uptake of nutrients in bacteria but are involved in diverse processes, such as signal transduction, protein secretion, drug and antibiotic resistance, antigen presentation, bacterial pathogenesis and sporulation. Moreover, some human inheritable diseases, like cystic fibrosis, adrenoleukodystrophy and Stargardt's disease are caused by defective ABC transport systems. Thus, albeit of major significance, details of the molecular mechanism by which these systems exert their functions are still poorly understood. In this review, recent data concerning the properties and putative role of the ATP-hydrolyzing subunits/domains are summarized and compared between bacterial and eukaryotic systems.

When an ATPase is not an ATPase: at low temperatures the C-terminal domain of the ABC transporter CvaB is a GTPase

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters belong to a large superfamily of proteins which share a common function and a common nucleotide-binding domain. The CvaB protein from Escherichia coli is a member of the bacterial ABC exporter subfamily and is essential for the export of the peptide antibiotic colicin V. Here we report that, surprisingly, the CvaB carboxyl-terminal nucleotide-binding domain (BCTD) can be preferentially cross-linked to GTP but not to ATP at low temperatures. The cross-linking is Mg2+ and Mn2+ dependent. However, BCTD possesses similar GTPase and ATPase activities at 37 degrees C, with the same kinetic parameters and with similar responses to inhibitors. Moreover, a point mutation (D654H) in CvaB that completely abolishes colicin V secretion severely impairs both GTPase and ATPase activities in the corresponding BCTD, indicating that the two activities are from the same enzyme. Interestingly, hydrolysis activity of ATP is much more cold sensitive than that of GTP: BCTD possesses mainly GTP hydrolysis activity at 10 degrees C, consistent with the cross-linking results. These findings suggest a novel mechanism for an ABC protein-mediated transport with specificity for GTP hydrolysis.

Characterization of the human multidrug resistance protein containing mutations in the ATP-binding cassette signature region

A number of mutants with single amino acid replacements were generated in the highly conserved ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-signature region (amino acids 531-543) of the N-terminal half of the human multidrug resistance (MDR1) protein. The cDNA variants were inserted into recombinant baculoviruses and the MDR1 proteins were expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells. The level of expression and membrane insertion of the MDR1 variants was examined by immunostaining, and MDR1 function was followed by measuring drug-stimulated ATPase activity. We found that two mutations, L531R and G534V, practically eliminated MDR1 expression; thus these amino acid replacements seem to inhibit the formation of a stable MDR1 protein structure. The MDR1 variants G534D and I541R were expressed at normal levels with normal membrane insertion, but showed a complete loss of drug-stimulated ATPase activity, while mutant R538M yielded full protein expression but with greatly decreased ATPase activity. Increasing the ATP concentration did not restore MDR1 ATPase activity in these variants. Some amino acid replacements in the ABC-signature region (K536I, K536R, I541T and R543S) affected neither the expression and membrane insertion nor the ATPase function of MDR1. We found no alteration in the drug-sensitivity of ATP cleavage in any of the MDR1 variants that had measurable ATPase activity. These observations suggest that the ABC-signature region is essential for MDR1 protein stability and function, but alterations in this region do not seem to modulate MDR1-drug interactions directly.