Peptide-specific antibody for the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli localizes the carboxyl terminus to the cytoplasmic face of the membrane

The synthetic decapeptide NH2-Cys-Val-Gly-Ala-Val-Ser-Asp-Val-Lys-Ala-COOH (designated MBct10), which corresponds to the carboxyl terminus of the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli, was synthesized and used to raise antibodies in a rabbit. Anti-MBct10 antibodies recognizes the normal melibiose carrier but not a truncated carrier lacking 14 carboxyl-terminal amino acids. Thus the antibodies are specific for the carboxyl terminus of the carrier and not for other domains of the protein. When right-side-out and inside-out membrane vesicles were probed with anti-MBct10 serum, only the inside-out vesicles bound antibody. The carboxyl terminus of the melibiose carrier protein is therefore exposed on the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane. The co-localization of both NH2- and carboxyl termini to the cytoplasmic surface dictates that the protein cross the membrane an even number of times. These data together with hydrophobicity analysis support a topological model for the melibiose carrier with 10 or 12 transmembrane domains.     

Melibiose permease of Escherichia coli: mutation of aspartic acid 55 in putative helix II abolishes activation of sugar binding by Na+ ions

An aspartic residue (Asp55) located in the putative transmembrane alpha-helix II of the melibiose(mel) permease of Escherichia coli was replaced by Cys using oligonucleotide-directed, site-specific mutagenesis. Although D55C permease is expressed at 0.7 times the level of wild type permease, the mutated mel permease loses the ability to catalyse Na+ or H+ coupled melibiose transport against a concentration gradient. (3H) p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-galactoside (NPG) binding studies demonstrated that D55C permease binds the sugar co-substrate but Na+ (or Li+) ions do no longer enhance the affinity of D55C permease for the co-transported sugar. In addition sugar binding on D55C permease but not on wild type permease is inactivated by sulfhydryl reagents and the inhibition protected by an excess of melibiose. These observations suggest 1) that the negatively-charged Asp55 residue, expected to be within the membrane embedded domain near the NH2 extremity of mel permease, is in or near the Na(+)-binding site and 2) that the cation and sugar binding sites may be overlapping.     

Cysteine substitutions for individual residues in helix VI of the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli

The melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli is a cytoplasmic membrane protein that mediates the cotransport of galactosides with H⁺, Na⁺, or Li⁺. In this study we used cysteine-scanning mutagenesis to try to gain information about the position of transmembrane helix VI in the three-dimensional structure of the melibiose carrier. We constructed 23 individual cysteine substitutions in helix VI and an adjacent loop of the carrier. The resulting melibiose carriers retained 22–100% of their ability to transport melibiose. We tested the effect of the hydrophilic sulfhydryl reagent p-chloromercuri-benzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS) on the cysteine-substitution mutants and we found that there was no inhibition of melibiose transport in any of the mutants. We suggest that helix VI is imbedded in phospholipid and does not face the aqueous channel through which melibiose passes. Received: 6 March 2001/Revised: 14 May 2001     

The transmembrane segment of the human Na,K-ATPase beta-subunit acts as the membrane incorporation signal

The human Na,K-ATPase beta-subunit is anchored to the membrane by a single stretch of 28 hydrophobic amino acids; the hydrophilic amino terminus faces the cytoplasm and the carboxyl terminus is exoplasmic. Glycosylation and insertion of the Na,K-ATPase beta-subunit into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane are shown to be co-translational and SRP-dependent. The hydrophilic amino terminus is not required for the membrane insertion. The membrane-anchor domain is necessary for membrane insertion, and a 16 amino acid stretch has been identified as an element sufficient for the insertion.     

Melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli: use of cysteine mutagenesis to identify the amino acids on the hydrophilic face of transmembrane helix 2.

The melibiose carrier from Escherichia coli is a galactoside-cation symporter. Based on both experimental evidence and hydropathy analysis, 12 transmembrane helices have been assigned to this integral membrane protein. Transmembrane helix 2 contains several charged and polar amino acids that have been shown to be essential for the cation-coupled transport of melibiose. Starting with the cysteine-less melibiose carrier, we have individually substituted cysteine for amino acids 39-66, which includes the proposed transmembrane helix 2. In the resulting derivative carriers, we measured the transport of melibiose, determined the effect of the hydrophilic sulfhydryl reagent, p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS), on transport in intact cells and inside out vesicles, and examined the ability of melibiose to protect the carrier from inactivation by the sulfhydryl reagent. We found a set of seven positions in which the reaction with the sulfhydryl reagent caused partial or complete loss of carrier function measured in intact cells or inside-out vesicles. The presence of melibiose protected five of these positions from reaction with PCMBS. The reaction of two additional positions with PCMBS resulted in the partial loss of transport function only in inside-out vesicles. Melibiose protected these two positions from reaction with the reagent. Together, the PCMBS-sensitive sites and charged residues assigned to helix 2 form a cluster of amino acids that map in three rows with each row comprised of every fourth residue. This is the pattern expected of residues that are part of an alpha-helical structure and thus the rows are tilted at an angle of 25 degrees to the helical axis. We suggest that these residues line the path of melibiose and its associated cation through the carrier.     

Distinct domains of an oligotopic membrane protein are Sec-dependent and Sec-independent for membrane insertion.

Leader peptidase of Escherichia coli spans the plasma membrane twice with its amino terminus on the periplasmic surface of the membrane and its large carboxyl-terminal domain protruding into the periplasm. To monitor the transfer of the amino terminus of leader peptidase to the periplasm, we have constructed a fusion protein between the 18-residue amino-terminal periplasmic domain of Pf3 bacteriophage coat protein and the beginning of leader peptidase. We find that neither the SecA or SecY proteins nor a transmembrane electrochemical potential is required for insertion of the amino terminus, while the transfer of the carboxyl-terminal domain of leader peptidase has these requirements. The first 35 residues of leader peptidase, which include the first hydrophobic domain and the carboxyl-terminal positively charged cluster, are sufficient to insert the amino terminus. When positively charged residues are introduced before the first transmembrane segment, translocation of the amino terminus is abolished. These studies in protein membrane topogenesis, showing that there are different requirements for amino and carboxyl termini insertion, indicate that multiple mechanisms exist even within the same protein.     

H + -substrate cotransport by the melibiose membrane carrier in Escherichia coli

Proton entry into anaerobic Escherichia coli in response to the addition of HCl was measured by monitoring pH changes in the external solution. Preincubation of cells in a Na+ -free medium containing melibiose or methyl-alpha-galactoside (alpha MG) stimulated the rate of H+ entry in response to the acid pulse. This melibiose- or alpha MG-dependent proton pathway appeared to be identical to the melibiose carrier, since the channel was only observed in melibiose-induced cells. Furthermore, this membrane pathway for protons showed the same temperature sensitivity as the melibiose carrier (active at 30 degrees but inactive at 37 degrees). These observations are consistent with the idea that the melibiose transport system provides a pathway for protons in the presence of appropriate substrates, but that the pathway is closed to protons in the absence of the sugar. Such observations indicate that there is an obligatory coupling between H+ flux and melibiose or alpha MG flux through the carrier when Na+ is omitted from the incubation medium.     

Melibiose permease of Escherichia coli. Characteristics of co-substrates release during facilitated diffusion reactions

The mechanism of melibiose symport by the melibiose permease of Escherichia coli was investigated by further analyzing the Na+ (H+ or Li+)-coupled facilitated diffusion reactions catalyzed by the carrier in de-energized membrane vesicles, with particular emphasis on the reaction of sugar exchange at equilibrium. It is first shown that melibiose exchange at equilibrium proceeds without concomitant movement of Na+, i.e. the coupled cation is kinetically occluded during the melibiose exchange reaction. These results provide further experimental support for the model of Na+ sugar co-transport of the physiological substrate melibiose previously suggested (Bassilana, M., Pourcher, T., and Leblanc, G. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 16865-16870) in which: 1) the mechanisms of co-substrate binding to (or release from) the carrier are ordered processes on both the outer (Na+ first, sugar last) and inner membrane surfaces (sugar first, Na+ last) and give rise to a mirror-type model; 2) release of Na+ from the carrier on the inner membrane surface is very slow and rate-limiting for carrier cycling but is fast on the opposite side, contributing to the asymmetrical functioning of the permease. On the other hand, analysis of the exchange of identical sugars (homologous exchange) and different sugar analogs (heterologous exchange) indicates that the overall rate of sugar exchange reaction coupled to Na+ or Li+ is limited by the rate of one (or more) partial step(s) associated with the inflow of co-substrates and most probably by the rate of sugar release into the intravesicular medium. It is proposed that the variability of the facilitated diffusion reactions catalyzed by the carrier in the presence of different coupled cations and/or sugar analogs reflects variations in the rate of co-substrate release from the carrier on the inner membrane surface.     

An internal signal sequence: the asialoglycoprotein receptor membrane anchor

The human asialoglycoprotein receptor H1 is anchored in the membrane by a single stretch of 20 hydrophobic amino acids; the hydrophilic amino terminus faces the cytoplasm, and the carboxyl terminus is exoplasmic. We show here that glycosylation and insertion of the asialoglycoprotein receptor into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane is cotranslational and SRP-dependent and occurs without proteolytic cleavage. The membrane-anchor domain is necessary for membrane insertion, since a receptor with the segment deleted is neither inserted nor glycosylated. The segment is also sufficient for membrane insertion, since it will initiate translocation of a carboxy-terminal domain of rat alpha-tubulin across the membrane. We propose that a helical hairpin mechanism of membrane insertion is used both by cleaved amino-terminal and uncleaved internal signal sequences.     

Role of the coronavirus E viroporin protein transmembrane domain in virus assembly

Coronavirus envelope (E) proteins are small (approximately 75- to 110-amino-acid) membrane proteins that have a short hydrophilic amino terminus, a relatively long hydrophobic membrane domain, and a long hydrophilic carboxy-terminal domain. The protein is a minor virion structural component that plays an important, not fully understood role in virus production. It was recently demonstrated that the protein forms ion channels. We investigated the importance of the hydrophobic domain of the mouse hepatitis coronavirus (MHV) A59 E protein. Alanine scanning insertion mutagenesis was used to examine the effect of disruption of the domain on virus production in the context of the virus genome by using a MHV A59 infectious clone. Mutant viruses exhibited smaller plaque phenotypes, and virus production was significantly crippled. Analysis of recovered viruses suggested that the structure of the presumed alpha-helical structure and positioning of polar hydrophilic residues within the predicted transmembrane domain are important for virus production. Generation of viruses with restored wild-type helical pitch resulted in increased virus production, but some exhibited decreased virus release. Viruses with the restored helical pitch were more sensitive to treatment with the ion channel inhibitor hexamethylene amiloride than were the more crippled parental viruses with the single alanine insertions, suggesting that disruption of the transmembrane domain affects the functional activity of the protein. Overall the results indicate that the transmembrane domain plays a crucial role during biogenesis of virions.     

The role of the carboxyl terminus in ClC chloride channel function

The human muscle chloride channel ClC-1 has a 398-amino acid carboxyl-terminal domain that resides in the cytoplasm and contains two CBS (cystathionine-beta-synthase) domains. To examine the role of this region, we studied various carboxyl-terminal truncations by heterologous expression in mammalian cells, whole-cell patch clamp recording, and confocal imaging. Channel constructs lacking parts of the distal CBS domain, CBS2, did not produce functional channels, whereas deletion of CBS1 was tolerated. ClC channels are dimeric proteins with two ion conduction pathways (protopores). In heterodimeric channels consisting of one wild type subunit and one subunit in which the carboxyl terminus was completely deleted, only the wild type protopore was functional, indicating that the carboxyl terminus supports the function of the protopore. All carboxyl-terminal-truncated mutant channels fused to yellow fluorescent protein were translated and the majority inserted into the plasma membrane as revealed by confocal microscopy. Fusion proteins of cyan fluorescent protein linked to various fragments of the carboxyl terminus formed soluble proteins that could be redistributed to the surface membrane through binding to certain truncated channel subunits. Stable binding only occurs between carboxyl-terminal fragments of a single subunit, not between carboxyl termini of different subunits and not between carboxyl-terminal and transmembrane domains. However, an interaction with transmembrane domains can modify the binding properties of particular carboxyl-terminal proteins. Our results demonstrate that the carboxyl terminus of ClC-1 is not necessary for intracellular trafficking but is critical for channel function. Carboxyl termini fold independently and modify individual protopores of the double-barreled channel.     

Primary structure and characteristics of the melibiose carrier of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The melB gene coding for the melibiose carrier of Klebsiella pneumoniae was cloned and sequenced. There were two potential translation initiation sites. It was predicted that the melibiose carrier consists of 471 (or 467) amino acid residues. Seventy-eight percent of the 471 amino acids were identical to the Escherichia coli melibiose carrier. Sugar transport characteristics were studied using an E. coli mel- mutant expressing cloned K. pneumoniae melB gene. Accumulation of melibiose via the K. pneumoniae melibiose carrier was not stimulated by adding NaCl or LiCl which stimulates melibiose accumulation via the E. coli melibiose carrier. Lactose was accumulated only in the presence of LiCl. TMG (methyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside) was accumulated in the absence of added NaCl or LiCl. The accumulation was stimulated by LiCl but not by NaCl. Rapid H+ uptake was observed when melibiose or TMG was added to cell suspensions. These results suggest that the preferred cation couplings via K. pneumoniae melibiose carrier are H(+)-melibiose, Li(+)-lactose, and H+/Li(+)-TMG. This coupling spectrum is quite different from that of the E. coli melibiose carrier. It is of special interest that the K. pneumoniae melibiose carrier seems to be lacking the ability to recognize Na+ which is a preferred coupling cation of the E. coli melibiose carrier for all known sugar substrates. Further investigation of these two carriers may give us insight into the Na+ recognition site.     

Physiological evidence for an interaction between helices II and XI in the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli

The melibiose carrier from Escherichia coli is a cation-substrate cotransporter that catalyzes the accumulation of galactosides at the expense of H(+), Na(+), or Li(+) electrochemical gradients. Charged residues on transmembrane domains in the amino-terminal portion of this carrier play an important role in the recognition of cations, while the carboxyl portion of the protein seems to be important for sugar recognition. In the present study, we substituted Lys-377 on helix XI with Val. This mutant carrier, K377V, had reduced melibiose transport activity. We subsequently used this mutant for the isolation of functional second-site revertants. Revertant strains showed the additional substitutions of Val or Asn for Asp-59 (helix II), or Leu for Phe-20 (helix I). Isolation of revertant strains where both Lys-377 and Asp-59 are substituted with neutral residues suggested the possibility that a salt bridge exists between helix II and helix XI. To further test this idea, we constructed three additional site-directed mutants: Asp-59-->Lys (D59K), Lys-377-->Asp (K377D), and a double mutant, Asp-59-->Lys/Lys-377-->Asp (D59K/K377D), in which the position of these charges was exchanged. K377D accumulated melibiose only marginally while D59K could not accumulate. However, the D59K/K377D double mutant accumulated melibiose to a modest level although this activity was no longer stimulated by Na(+). We suggest that Asp-59 and Lys-377 interact via a salt bridge that brings helix II and helix XI close to one another in the three-dimensional structure of the carrier.     

Cation-sugar cotransport in the melibiose transport system of Escherichia coli.

The entry of Na+ or H+ into cells of Escherichia coli via the melibiose transport system was stimulated by the addition of certain galactosides. The principal cell used in these studies (W3133) was a lactose transport negative strain of E. coli possessing an inducible melibiose transport system. Such cells were grown in the presence of melibiose, washed, and incubated in the presence of 25 microM Na+. The addition of thiomethylgalactoside (TMG) resulted in a fall in Na+ concentration in the incubation medium. No TMG-stimulated Na+ movement was observed in uninduced cells. In an alpha-galactosidase negative derivative of W3133 (RA11) a sugar-stimulated Na+ uptake was observed in melibiose-induced cells on the addition of melibiose, thiodigalactoside, methyl-alpha-galactoside, methyl-beta-galactoside, and galactose, but not lactose. It was inferred from these studies that the substrates of the melibiose system enter the cell on the melibiose carrier associated with the simultaneous entry of Na+ when this cation is present in the incubation medium. Extracellular pH was measured in unbuffered suspensions of induced cells in order to study proton movement across the membrane of cells exposed to different galactosides. In the absence of external Na+ or Li+ the addition of melibiose or methyl-alpha-galactoside resulted in marked alkalinization of the external medium (consistent with H+-sugar cotransport). On the other hand TMG, thiodigalactoside, and methyl-beta-galactoside gave no proton movement under these conditions. When Na+ was present, the addition of TMG or melibiose resulted in acidification of the medium. This observation is consistent with the view that the entry of Na+ with TMG or melibiose carries into the cell a positive charge (Na+) which provides the driving force for the diffusion of protons out of the cell. It is concluded that the melibiose carrier recognition of cations differs with different substrates.     

Topology of a human equilibrative, nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR)-sensitive nucleoside transporter (hENT1) implicated in the cellular uptake of adenosine and anti-cancer drugs

The human equilibrative nucleoside transporter hENT1, the first identified member of the ENT family of integral membrane proteins, is the primary mechanism for the cellular uptake of physiologic nucleosides, including adenosine, and many anti-cancer nucleoside drugs. We have produced recombinant hENT1 in Xenopus oocytes and used native and engineered N-glycosylation sites in combination with immunological approaches to experimentally define the membrane architecture of this prototypic nucleoside transporter. hENT1 (456 amino acid residues) is shown to contain 11 transmembrane helical segments with an amino terminus that is intracellular and a carboxyl terminus that is extracellular. Transmembrane helices are linked by short hydrophilic regions, except for a large glycosylated extracellular loop between transmembrane helices 1 and 2 and a large central cytoplasmic loop between transmembrane helices 6 and 7. Sequence analyses suggest that this membrane topology is common to all mammalian, insect, nematode, protozoan, yeast, and plant members of the ENT protein family.     

Lactose transport system of Streptococcus thermophilus. The role of histidine residues.

The lactose transport protein (LacS) of Streptococcus thermophilus is a chimeric protein consisting of an amino-terminal carrier domain and a carboxyl-terminal phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) IIA protein domain. The histidine residues of LacS were changed individually into glutamine or arginine residues. Of the 11 histidine residues present in LacS, only the His-376 substitution in the carrier domain significantly affected sugar transport. The region around His-376 was found to exhibit sequence similarity to the region around His-322 of the lactose transport protein (LacY) of Escherichia coli, which has been implicated in sugar binding and in coupling of sugar and H+ transport. The H376Q mutation resulted in a reduced rate of uptake and altered affinity for lactose (beta-galactoside), melibiose (alpha-galactoside), and the lactose analog methyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside. Similarly, the extent of accumulation of the galactosides by cells expressing LacS(H376Q) was highly reduced in comparison to cells bearing the wild-type protein. Nonequilibrium exchange of lactose and methyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside by the H376Q mutant was approximately 2-fold reduced in comparison to the activity of the wild-type transport protein. The data indicate that His-376 is involved in sugar recognition and is important, but not essential, for the cotransport of protons and galactosides. The carboxyl-terminal domain of LacS contains 2 histidine residues (His-537 and His-552) that are conserved in seven homologous IIA protein(s) (domains) of PTSs. P-enolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of wild-type LacS, but not of the mutant H552Q, was demonstrated using purified Enzyme I and HPr, the general energy coupling proteins of the PTS, and inside-out membrane vesicles isolated from E. coli in which the lactose transport gene was expressed. The His-537 and His-552 mutations did not affect transport activity when the corresponding genes were expressed in E. coli.     

Sugar binding properties of the melibiose permease in Escherichia coli membrane vesicles. Effects of Na+ and H+ concentrations

The substrate binding reaction of the melibiose carrier was analyzed by studying [3H]p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside (Np alpha Gal) binding to de-energized membrane vesicles from Escherichia coli RA11 as a function of H+ and Na+ (or Li+) concentrations. The data indicate first that Na+ (or Li+) activates Np alpha Gal binding at all pH values tested between 5.5 and 7.5 and second that H+ inhibits the Na+ (or Li+)-dependent activating effect on Np alpha Gal binding. Similar conclusions were drawn for melibiose and methyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactoside binding activities. Unexpectedly, Np alpha Gal, melibiose, and methyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactoside binding activities are insensitive to a variety of SH reagents which completely block transport activity. Quantitative analysis of the effects of H+ and Na+ ions on the parameters of Np alpha Gal binding show that 1) the maximal number of binding sites is constant irrespective of the concentration of Na+ or Li+ in the range of pH between 6 and 7.5 and 2) the apparent dissociation constant for Np alpha Gal binding varies with both Na+ and H+ according to a relation described by a linear combination of the concentration of H+ and the reciprocal of Na+ concentration. These results can be accounted for by a model which assumes sequential binding of the cation and substrate in this order and competition between Na+ and H+ for a common cationic binding site on the porter. Predictions of the proposed binding model for a carrier mechanism catalyzing sugar transport according to a Na+ symport mode or a H+ symport mode are discussed.     

Topology,glycosylation and conformational changes in the membrane domain of the vacuolar H+‐ATPase a subunit

Published topological models of the integral membrane a subunit of the vacuolar proton‐translocating ATPase complex have not been in agreement with respect to either the number of transmembrane helices within the integral membrane domain, or their limits and orientations within the lipid bilayer. In the present work we have constructed a predictive model of the membrane insertion of the yeast a subunit, Vph1p, from a consensus of seven topology prediction algorithms. The model was tested experimentally using epitope tagging, green fluorescent protein fusion, and protease accessibility analysis in purified yeast vacuoles. Results suggest that a consensus prediction of eight transmembrane helices with both the amino‐terminus and carboxyl‐terminus in the cytoplasm is correct. Characterization of two glycosylation sites within the homologous mouse a subunit membrane domain further corroborates this topology. Moreover, the model takes into account published data on cytoplasmic and luminal accessibility of specific amino acids. Changes in the degree of protease accessibility in response to the V‐ATPase substrate, MgATP, and the V‐ATPase‐specific inhibitor, concanamycin A, suggest that functional conformational changes occur in the large cytoplasmic loop between TM6 and TM7 of Vph1p. These data substantially confirm one topological model of the V‐ATPase a subunit and support the notion that conformational changes occur within the membrane domain, possibly involving previously proposed axial rotation and/or linear displacement of TM7 in the proton transport cycle. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 1474–1487, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Role of the 3-Hydroxy 3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase Cytosolic Domain in Karmellae Biogenesis

In all cells examined, specific endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane arrays are induced in response to increased levels of the ER membrane protein 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. In yeast, expression of Hmg1p, one of two yeast HMG-CoA reductase isozymes, induces assembly of nuclear-associated ER stacks called karmellae. Understanding the features of HMG-CoA reductase that signal karmellae biogenesis would provide useful insights into the regulation of membrane biogenesis. The HMG-CoA reductase protein consists of two domains, a multitopic membrane domain and a cytosolic catalytic domain. Previous studies had indicated that the HMG-CoA reductase membrane domain was exclusively responsible for generation of ER membrane proliferations. Surprisingly, we discovered that this conclusion was incorrect: sequences at the carboxyl terminus of HMG-CoA reductase can profoundly affect karmellae biogenesis. Specifically, truncations of Hmg1p that removed or shortened the carboxyl terminus were unable to induce karmellae assembly. This result indicated that the membrane domain of Hmg1p was not sufficient to signal for karmellae assembly. Using beta-galactosidase fusions, we demonstrated that the carboxyl terminus was unlikely to simply serve as an oligomerization domain. Our working hypothesis is that a truncated or misfolded cytosolic domain prevents proper signaling for karmellae by interfering with the required tertiary structure of the membrane domain.     

The glucose transporter of Escherichia coli. Mutants with impaired translocation activity that retain phosphorylation activity.

The glucose transporter of the bacterial phosphotransferase system couples translocation with phosphorylation of the substrate in a 1:1 stoichiometry. It is a complex consisting of a transmembrane subunit (IIGlc) and a hydrophilic subunit (IIIGlc). Both subunits are transiently phosphorylated. IIIGlc is phosphorylated at a histidyl residue by the cytoplasmic phosphoryl carrier protein phospho-heat-stable phosphoryl carrier protein; IIGlc is phosphorylated at a cysteinyl residue by phospho-IIIGlc. The IIGlc subunit consists of two domains. The N-terminal hydrophobic domain is presumed to span the membrane several times; the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain includes the phosphorylation site. IIGlc phosphorylates glucose and methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside in transit across the inner membrane but can also phosphorylate intracellular glucose. Ten mutants resistant against extracellular toxic methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside yet capable of phosphorylating intracellular glucose were isolated. Strong impairment of transport activity in these mutants was accompanied by only a slight decrease of phosphorylation activity. Amino acid substitutions occurred at six sites that are clustered in three presumably hydrophilic loops in the transmembrane domain of IIGlc: M17T, M17I, G149S, K150E, S157F, H339Y, and D343G. We presume that the three polypeptide segments are directly involved in sugar translocation and/or binding but are of little importance for phosphorylation activity, folding, and membrane localization of IIGlc.