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

EMBO J. 2001 Aug 15;20(16):4408-13. doi: 10.1093/emboj/20.16.4408.

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 A 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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxalobacter formigenes / chemistry
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • OxlT protein, bacteria
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins