pH-Dependent Gating in a FocA Formate Channel
Abstract
The formate transporter FocA was described to switch its mode of operation from a passive export channel at high external pH to a secondary active formate/H+ importer at low pH. The crystal structure of Salmonella typhimurium FocA at pH 4.0 shows that this switch involves a major rearrangement of the amino termini of individual protomers in the pentameric channel. The amino-terminal helices open or block transport in a concerted, cooperative action that indicates how FocA is gated in a pH-dependent way. Electrophysiological studies show that the protein acts as a specific formate channel at pH 7.0 and that it closes upon a shift of pH to 5.1.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- April 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1199098
- Bibcode:
- 2011Sci...332..352L
- Keywords:
-
- BIOCHEM