Secretin PulD: association with pilot PulS, structure, and ion-conducting channel formation

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Jul 6;96(14):8173-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.14.8173.

Abstract

The outer membrane protein PulD (secretin) of Klebsiella oxytoca is required for transport of pullulanase across this membrane. We have purified a multimeric PulD complex from an Escherichia coli strain expressing all the proteins involved in pullulanase secretion. The outer membrane-anchored lipoprotein PulS was found to copurify with PulD. The molar ratio of the two proteins is close to 1:1, and the size of the complex is approximately 1 MDa. Scanning transmission electron and cryo-electron microscopy analyses showed that the purified complex is a cylindrical structure having a central cavity of approximately 7.6 nm and peripheral radial spokes. Fusion of proteoliposomes containing the purified complex with a planar lipid bilayer resulted in the appearance of small, voltage-activated, ion-conducting channels. We conclude that the central cavity seen in the electron microscope is part of a large gated channel and propose that the observed current fluctuations correspond to voltage-induced, relatively minor displacements of domains in the purified complex rather than to a complete opening of the secretin channel.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Escherichia coli
  • Glycoside Hydrolases / biosynthesis
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Ion Channels / physiology*
  • Klebsiella / physiology*
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission
  • Models, Molecular
  • Proteolipids

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Ion Channels
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Proteolipids
  • proteoliposomes
  • PulD protein, Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • Glycoside Hydrolases
  • pullulanase