Crystal structure of a divalent metal ion transporter CorA at 2.9 angstrom resolution

Science. 2006 Jul 21;313(5785):354-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1127121.

Abstract

CorA family members are ubiquitously distributed transporters of divalent metal cations and are considered to be the primary Mg2+ transporter of Bacteria and Archaea. We have determined a 2.9 angstrom resolution structure of CorA from Thermotoga maritima that reveals a pentameric cone-shaped protein. Two potential regulatory metal binding sites are found in the N-terminal domain that bind both Mg2+ and Co2+. The structure of CorA supports an efflux system involving dehydration and rehydration of divalent metal ions potentially mediated by a ring of conserved aspartate residues at the cytoplasmic entrance and a carbonyl funnel at the periplasmic side of the pore.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Cation Transport Proteins / chemistry*
  • Cation Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Chlorides / analysis
  • Chlorides / metabolism
  • Cobalt / chemistry
  • Cobalt / metabolism*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Magnesium / chemistry
  • Magnesium / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Thermotoga maritima / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cation Transport Proteins
  • Chlorides
  • Water
  • Cobalt
  • Magnesium