Projection structure and molecular architecture of OxlT, a bacterial membrane transporter

Jürgen A.W. Heymann, Rafiquel Sarker, Teruhisa Hirai, Dan Shi, Jacqueline L.S. Milne, Peter C. Maloney, Sriram Subramaniam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

The major facilitator superfamily (MFS) represents the largest collection of evolutionarily related members within the class of membrane 'carrier' proteins. OxlT, a representative example of the MFS, is an oxalate-transporting membrane protein in Oxalobacter formigenes. From an electron crystallographic analysis of two-dimensional crystals of OxlT, we have determined the projection structure of this membrane transporter. The projection map at 6 Å resolution indicates the presence of 12 transmembrane helices in each monomer of OxlT, with one set of six helices related to the other set by an approximate internal two-fold axis. The projection map reveals the existence of a central cavity, which we propose to be part of the pathway of oxalate transport. By combining information from the projection map with related biochemical data, we present probable models for the architectural arrangement of transmembrane helices in this protein superfamily.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4408-4413
Number of pages6
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume20
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 2001

Keywords

  • Electron cryo-microscopy
  • Major facilitator superfamily
  • Membrane transporter
  • Two-dimensional crystallization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Immunology and Microbiology(all)

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