Structural features of the uniporter/symporter/antiporter superfamily.

The uniporter/symporter/antiporter superfamily is an evolutionarily related group of solute transporters. For the entire superfamily, we have used a new predictive program to identify the transmembrane domains. These transmembrane domains were then analyzed with regard to their overall hydrophobicity and amphipathicity. In addition, the lengths of the hydrophilic loops connecting the transmembrane domains were calculated. These data, together with structural information in the literature, were collectively used to produce a general model for the three-dimensional arrangement of the transmembrane domains.     

Towards Molecular Understanding of the pH Dependence Characterizing NhaA of Which Structural Fold is Shared by Other Transporters

Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters comprise a super-family (CPA) of membrane proteins that are found in all kingdoms of life and are essential in cellular homeostasis of pH, Na⁺ and volume. Their activity is strictly dependent on pH, a property that underpins their role in pH homeostasis. While several human homologues have long been drug targets, NhaA of Escherichia coli has become the paradigm for this class of secondary active transporters as NhaA crystal structure provided insight into the architecture of this molecular machine. However, the mechanism of the strict pH dependence of NhaA is missing. Here, as a follow up of a recent evolutionary analysis that identified a ‘CPA motif’, we rationally designed three E. coli NhaA mutants: D133S, I134T, and the double mutant D133S-I134T. Exploring growth phenotype, transport activity and Li⁺-binding of the mutants, we revealed that Asp133 does not participate directly in proton binding, nor does it directly dictate the pH-dependent transport of NhaA. Strikingly, the variant I134T lost some of the pH control, and the D133S-Il134T double mutant retained Li⁺ binding in a pH independent fashion. Concurrent to loss of pH control, these mutants bound Li⁺ more strongly than the WT. Both positions are in close vicinity to the ion-binding site of the antiporter, attributing the results to electrostatic interaction between these residues and Asp164 of the ion-binding site. This is consistent with pH sensing resulting from direct coupling between cation binding and deprotonation in Asp164, which applies also to other CPA antiporters that are involved in human diseases.     

How do antiporters exchange substrates across the cell membrane? An atomic-level description of the complete exchange cycle in NarK

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Cancer cells release glutamate via the cystine/glutamate antiporter

Although the amino acid glutamate is used as an intercellular signaling molecule for normal bone homeostasis, little is known regarding its possible role in the metabolic disruption characteristic of bone metastasis. We have previously shown in vitro that cancer cell lines relevant to bone metastasis release glutamate into the extracellular environment. This study demonstrates the expression of multiple glutamate transporters in cancer cell lines of non-central nervous system origin. Furthermore, we identify the molecular mechanism responsible for glutamate export and show that this system can be inhibited pharmacologically. By highlighting that glutamate secretion is a common biological feature of cancer cells, this study suggests that tumor-derived glutamate could interfere with glutamate-dependent intercellular signaling in normal bone. Pharmacological interference with cancer cell glutamate release may be a viable option for limiting host bone response to invading tumor cells in bone metastasis.     

离子转运蛋白调控钝齿棒杆菌离子和pH稳态促进L-精氨酸合成

L-精氨酸是一种半必需氨基酸,广泛应用于食品、制药、饲料等行业。【目的】当前对L-精氨酸生产菌株的研究,极少涉及离子转运领域。在本研究中,发现在发酵时适量添加外源K~+有利于促进钝齿棒杆菌(Corynebacterium crenatum) SYPA5-5合成L-精氨酸。【方法】在C. crenatum SYPA5-5发酵培养基外源添加0.5 g/L和2.5 g/L的K_3PO_4,取对数期发酵样品进行转录组数据分析,挖掘出K~+转运相关的阳离子转运ATP酶CTAP1以及单价阳离子/H~+逆转运蛋白Mrp1A,研究其在C. crenatum SYPA5-5快速合成L-精氨酸阶段,对菌株生长及L-精氨酸合成的影响。【结果】对基因ctap1和mrp1分别进行敲除和过表达,深入研究突变株对L-精氨酸合成的影响。研究发现同时过表达离子转运蛋白CTAP1和Mrp1A更有利于胞内离子、pH稳态和渗透压调节,最终提高L-精氨酸的产量。在补料分批发酵中分别过表达Mrp1A、CTAP1以及同时过表达Mrp1A和CTAP1的菌株L-精氨酸产量分别达到61.4 g/L、63.9 g/L和65.3 g/L,产率分别为0.383 g/g、0.392 g/g和0.395 g/g,比C. crenatum SYPA5-5分别提高了34.9%、38.0%和39.1%。【结论】CTAP1是特异性的K~+转运ATP酶,可以将培养基中的K~+运输到胞内。同时Mrp1A可将胞内K~+和Na~+等单价阳离子运输到胞外,将胞外H~+运输至胞内,中和胞内L-精氨酸所导致的碱性环境,从而维持胞内pH稳定。CTAP1和Mrp1A的研究为解析离子转运机制和L-精氨酸合成之间的联系奠定了基础。     

Molecular Cloning and Functional Analysis of a Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>/H<Superscript>+</Superscript> Antiporter Gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">ThNHX1</Emphasis> from a Halophytic Plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thellungiella halophila</Emphasis>

Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger catalyzes the countertransport of Na⁺ and H⁺ across membranes. Using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends method, a Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter gene (ThNHX1) was isolated from a halophytic plant, salt cress (Thellungiella halophila). The deduced amino acid sequence contained 545 amino acid residues with a conserved amiloride-binding domain (⁸⁷LFFIYLLPPI⁹⁶) and shared more than 94% identity with that of AtNHX1 from Arabidopsis thaliana. The ThNHX1 mRNA level was upregulated by salt and other stresses (abscisic acid, polyethylene glycol, and high temperature). This gene partially complemented the Na⁺/Li⁺-sensitive phenotype of a yeast mutant that was deficient in the endosomal–vacuolar Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter ScNHX1. Overexpression of ThNHX1 in Arabidopsis increased salt tolerance of transgenic plants compared with the wild-type plants. In addition, the silencing of ThNHX1 gene in T. halophila caused the transgenic plants to be more salt and osmotic sensitive than wild-type plant. Together, these results suggest that ThNHX1 may function as a tonoplast Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter and play an important role in salt tolerance of T. halophila. Chunxia Wu, Xiuhua Gao, and Xiangqiang Kong contributed equally to this work.     

Mechanisms and functions of nonphosphorylating electron transport in respiratory chain of plant mitochondria

Data are raeviewed on mitochondrial systems whose functioning in plants diminishes the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation. The involvement in this process of alternative oxidase, thermogenin-like uncoupling proteins, a 310 kD stress protein, free fatty acids, and the ADP/ATP antiporter is considered. The role of these systems is discussed with regard to thermogenesis, controlled production of reactive oxygen species, and regulation of bioenergetics and metabolism.     

Soochow University Engineering Science Edition3-5J53F088;5;B;F;F

cience)138 A006ZZA;A006_ZZ793石河子大学学报(自然科学版)2006年总目次~~0石河子大学学报(自然科学版)Journal of Shihezi University(Natural Science)139-149Z88A006ZZA;A006_ZZ794-804关注标志设计的新动态姜竹松;苏州大学艺术学院 江苏苏州215021标志;;标志设计;;视觉识别设计;;静态;;多维;;动态本文对近年来出现在标志设计中的新动态和经典案例作了仔细分析,并对其设计特征和文化内涵进行较为深入的阐述。0苏州大学学报(工科版)Journal of     

Production of γ-aminobutyric acid in Escherichia coli by engineering MSG pathway

Abstract

The compound γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has many important physiological functions. The effect of glutamate decarboxylases and the glutamate/GABA antiporter on GABA production was investigated in Escherichia coli. Three genes, gadA, gadB, and gadC were cloned and ligated alone or in combination into the plasmid pET32a. The constructed plasmids were transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Three strains, E. coli BL21(DE3)/pET32a-gadA, E. coli BL21(DE3)/pET32a-gadAB and E. coli BL21(DE3)/pET32a-gadABC were selected and identified. The respective titers of GABA from the three strains grown in shake flasks were 1.25, 2.31, and 3.98?g/L. The optimal titer of the substrate and the optimal pH for GABA production were 40?g/L and 4.2, respectively. The highest titer of GABA was 23.6?g/L at 36?h in batch fermentation and was 31.3?g/L at 57?h in fed-batch fermentation. This study lays a foundation for the development and use of GABA.     

Antiporter Gene from Hordum brevisubulatum （Trin.） Link and Its Overexpression in Transgenic Tobaccos

A vacuolar Na^ /H^ antiporter cDNA gene was successfully isolated fromHordeum brevisubulatum (Trin.) Link using the rapid amplification ofcDNA ends (RACE) method. The gene was named HbNHXI and was found to consist of 1 916 bp encoding a predicted polypeptide of 540 amino acids with a conserved amiloride-binding domain. Phylogenetic tree analysis of the Na^ /H^ antiporters showed that the HbNHXI gene shares 55.3%-74.8% similarity with the vacuolar-type Na^ /H^ antiporters. Transgenic tobaccos that contain the HbNHXI gene, integrated by forward insertion into the tobacco genome, were obtained via Agrobacterium tumerfaciens and characterized for the determination of the concentration of Na^ and K^ ions, as well as proline, in the presence of 300 mmol/L NaCl. The T1 transgenic plants showed more tolerance to salt and drought than did wild-type plants. Our data suggest that overexpression of the HbNHXI gene could improve the tolerance of transgenic tobaccos to salt and drought through the function of the vacuolar Na^ /H^ antiporter.