Cited by 134Protein Structure and DynamicsDrug Transport and Resistance MechanismsLipid Membrane Structure and Behavior

Direct protein-lipid interactions shape the conformational landscape of secondary transporters

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Martens, Chloe, Shekhar, Mrinal, Borysik, Antoni J., Lau, Andy M., Reading, Eamonn, Tajkhorshid, Emad, Booth, Paula J., Politis, Argyris·2018·Nature Communications

Abstract

Secondary transporters undergo structural rearrangements to catalyze substrate translocation across the cell membrane - yet how such conformational changes happen within a lipid environment remains poorly understood. Here, we combine hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to understand how lipids regulate the conformational dynamics of secondary transporters at the molecular level. Using the homologous transporters XylE, LacY and GlpT from Escherichia coli as model systems, we discover that conserved networks of charged residues act as molecular switches that drive the conformational transition between different states. We reveal that these molecular switches are regulated by interactions with surrounding phospholipids and show that phosphatidylethanolamine interferes with the formation of the conserved networks and favors an inward-facing state. Overall, this work provides insights into the importance of lipids in shaping the conformational landscape of an important class of transporters.

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Authors
Martens, C., Shekhar, M., Borysik, A. J., Lau, A. M., Reading, E., Tajkhorshid, E., Booth, P. J., & Politis, A.
Affiliations
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
  • King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Politis, Argyris
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2018-10-08
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
4151-4151
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2894708945
Cited by
134
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 21
FWCI
6.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Dépôt institutionnel de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (109854/Z/15/Z)
  • Medical Research Council (MC_PC_15031)
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/N011201/1)
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (R01-GM123455)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Structure and Dynamics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
Keywords
secondary transporters, protein-lipid interactions, conformational dynamics, molecular switches, phosphatidylethanolamine, XylE, lactose permease, GlpT, Escherichia coli, substrate translocation, membrane transport
MeSH terms
Cell Membrane, Escherichia coli, Membrane Lipids, Membrane Proteins, Monosaccharide Transport Proteins, Protein Binding, Protein Conformation, Mass Spectrometry, Membrane Transport Proteins, Symporters, Escherichia coli Proteins, Deuterium Exchange Measurement, Molecular Dynamics Simulation

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