Molecular mechanisms of band 3 inhibitors. 1. Transport site inhibitors

The band 3 protein of red cells is a transmembrane ion transport protein that catalyzes the one-for-one exchange of anions across the cell membrane. 35Cl NMR studies of Cl- binding to the transport sites of band 3 show that inhibitors of anion transport can be grouped into three classes: (1) transport site inhibitors (examined in this paper), (2) channel-blocking inhibitors (examined in the second of three papers in this issue), and (3) translocation inhibitors (examined in the third of three papers in this issue). Transport site inhibitors fully or partially reduce the affinity of Cl- for the transport site. The dianion 4,4'-di-nitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DNDS) and the arginine-specific reagent phenylglyoxal (PG) each completely eliminate the transport site 35Cl NMR line broadening, and each compete with Cl- for binding. These results indicate that DNDS and PG share a common inhibitory mechanism involving occupation of the transport site: one of the DNDS negative charges occupies the site, while PG covalently modifies one or more essential positive charges in the site. In contrast, 35Cl NMR line broadening experiments suggest that 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS) leaves the transport site partially intact so that the affinity of Cl- for the site is reduced but not destroyed. This result is consistent with a picture in which DIDS binds near the transport site and partially occupies the site.     

Evidence that anion transport by band 3 proceeds via a ping-pong mechanism involving a single transport site. A 35 Cl NMR study

Band 3 catalyzes the one-for-one exchange of monovalent anions across the red cell membrane. At least two anion binding sites have been postulated to exist on the transport unit: 1) a transport site that has been observed by saturation kinetics and by 35 Cl NMR studies of chloride binding, and 2) a 35Cl NMR-invisible inhibitory site that has been proposed to explain the inhibition of anion exchange at large anion concentrations. A number of independent studies have indicated that the transport site is alternately exposed to different sides of the membrane during the transport cycle. Yet the role, if any, of the postulated inhibitory site in the transport cycle is not known. Here it is shown that: 1) when the [Cl-], [Br-], or pH is varied, the band 3 transport sites on both sides of the membrane behave like a homogeneous population of simple anion binding sites in 35Cl NMR experiments, and 2) when the [Cl-] is varied, the outward-facing transport site behaves like a simple anion binding site. These results indicate that the postulated inhibitory site has no effect on chloride binding to the transport site. Instead, the results are quantitatively consistent with the ping-pong model (Gunn, R. B., and Fr?lich, O. (1979) J. Gen. Physiol. 74, 351-374), which states that the transport site is the only site involved in the transport cycle. Expressions are derived for the macroscopically observed characteristics of a ping-pong transporter: these characteristics are shown to be weighted averages of the microscopic properties of the inward- and outward-facing conformations of the transport site. In addition to supporting the simplicity of the transport mechanism, the high pH titration curve for chloride binding to the transport site provides insight into the structure of the site. The macroscopically observed pKA = 11.1 +/- 0.1 in the leaky ghost system indicates that an arginine must provide the essential positive charge in the inward- or outward-facing conformation of the transport site, or in both conformations.     

Molecular mechanisms of band 3 inhibitors. 2. Channel blockers

Band 3 is proposed to contain substrate channels that lead from the aqueous medium to a transport site buried within the membrane, and which can be blocked by inhibitors. The inhibitors 1,2-cyclohexanedione (CHD) and dipyridamole (DP) each inhibit the transport site 35Cl NMR line broadening, but neither competes with Cl- for binding. Thus these inhibitors do not occupy the transport site; instead they slow the migration of Cl- between the transport site and the medium. The simplest explanation for this behavior is that CHD and DP block one or more substrate channels. CHD is an arginine-specific covalent modification reagent, and its effectiveness as a channel blocker indicates that the channel contains arginine positive charges to facilitate the migration of anions through the channel. DP is a noncovalent channel blocker that binds with a stoichiometry of 1 molecule per band 3 dimer. DP binding is unaffected by CHD but is prevented by phenylglyoxal (PG), 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DNDS), or niflumic acid. Thus the DP and CHD binding sites are distinct, with DP binding sufficiently close to the transport site to interact with PG and DNDS. It is proposed that substrate channels may be a general feature of transport proteins.     

The kinetic equation for the chloride transport cycle of band 3. A 35Cl and 37Cl NMR study

The nature of a transmembrane transport process depends largely on the identity of the reaction that is rate-limiting in the transport cycle. The one-for-one exchange of two chloride ions across the red cell membrane by band 3 can be decomposed into two component reactions: 1) the binding and dissociation of chloride at the transport site, and 2) the translocation of bound chloride across the membrane. The present work utilizes 35 Cl NMR and 37 Cl NMR to set lower limits on the rates of chloride binding and dissociation at the saturated inward- and outward-facing band 3 transport sites (greater than or equal to 10(5) events site-1 s-1 in all cases). At both 0-3 and 37 degrees C, the NMR data specify that chloride binding and dissociation at the saturated transport sites are not rate-limiting, indicating that translocation of bound chloride across the membrane is the slowest step in the overall transport cycle. Using these results, it is now possible to describe many features of the kinetic equation for the ping-pong transport cycle of band 3. This transport cycle can be decomposed into two half-reactions associated with the transport of two chloride ions in opposite directions across the membrane, where each half-reaction is composed of sequential binding, translocation, and dissociation events. One half-reaction contains the rate-limiting translocation event that controls the turnover of the transport cycle; in this half-reaction, translocation must be slower than binding and dissociation. The other half-reaction contains the non-rate-limiting translocation event that in principle could be faster than binding or dissociation. However, when the following sufficient (but not necessary) condition is satisfied, both translocation events are slower than binding and dissociation: if the non-rate-limiting translocation rate is within a factor of 10(2) (0-3 degrees C) or 2 (37 degrees C) of the overall turnover rate, then translocation is rate-limiting in each saturated half-reaction. Thus, even though chloride appears to migrate through a channel that leads from the transport site to solution, the results support a picture in which the binding, dissociation, and channel migration events are rapid compared to the translocation of bound chloride across the membrane. In this case, chloride binding to the transport site can be described by a simple dissociation constant (KD = kappa OFF/kappa ON) rather than by a Michaelis-Menten constant (KM = (kappa OFF + kappa TRANSLOCATION)/KAPPA ON).     

Effects of membrane potential on electrically silent transport. Potential-independent translocation and asymmetric potential-dependent substrate binding to the red blood cell anion exchange protein

Tracer anion exchange flux measurements have been carried out in human red blood cells with the membrane potential clamped at various values with gramicidin. The goal of the study was to determine the effect of membrane potential on the anion translocation and binding events in the catalytic cycle for exchange. The conditions were arranged such that most of the transporters were recruited into the same configuration (inward-facing or outward-facing, depending on the direction of the Cl- gradient). We found that the membrane potential has no detectable effect on the anion translocation event, measured as 36Cl(-)-Cl- or 36Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange. The lack of effect of potential is in agreement with previous studies on red cells and is different from the behavior of the mouse erythroid band 3 gene expressed in frog oocytes (Grygorczyk, R., W. Schwarz, and H. Passow. 1987. J. Membr. Biol. 99:127-136). A negative potential decreases the potency of extracellular SO4= as an inhibitor of either Cl- or HCO3- influx. Because of the potential-dependent inhibition by SO4=, conditions could be found in which a negative intracellular potential actually accelerates 36Cl- influx. This effect is observed only in media containing multivalent anions. The simplest interpretation of the effect is that the negative potential lowers the inhibitory potency of the multivalent anion by lowering its local concentration near the transport site. The magnitude of the effect is consistent with the idea that the anions move through 10-15% of the transmembrane potential between the extracellular medium and the outward-facing transport site. In contrast to its effect on extracellular substrate binding, there is no detectable effect of membrane potential on the competition between intracellular Cl- and SO4= for transport sites. The lack of effect of potential on intracellular substrate binding suggests that the access pathway leading to the inward-facing transport site is of lower electrical resistance than that leading to the extracellular substrate site.     

Detection of Cl- binding to band 3 by double-quantum-filtered 35Cl nuclear magnetic resonance.

We have applied double-quantum-filtered (DQF) NMR of 35Cl to study binding of Cl- to external sites on intact red blood cells, including the outward-facing anion transport sites of band 3, an integral membrane protein. A DQF 35Cl NMR signal was observed in cell suspensions containing 150 mM KCl, but the DQF signal can be totally eliminated by adding 500 microM 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DNDS), an inhibitor that interferes with Cl- binding to the band 3 transport site. Therefore, it seems that only the binding of Cl- to transport sites of band 3 can give rise to a 35Cl DQF signal from red blood cell suspensions. In accordance with this concept, analysis of the single quantum free induction decay (FID) revealed that signals from buffer and DNDS-treated cells were fitted with a single exponential function, whereas the FID signals of untreated control cells were biexponential. The DQF signal remained after the cells were treated with eosin-5-maleimide (EM), a noncompetitive inhibitor of chloride exchange. This result supports previous reports that EM does not block the external chloride binding site. The band 3-dependent DQF signal is shown to be caused at least in part by nonisotropic motions of Cl- in the transport site, resulting in incompletely averaged quadrupolar couplings.     

35Cl nuclear magnetic resonance line broadening shows that eosin-5-maleimide does not block the external anion access channel of band 3.

It has been suggested that Lys-430 of band 3, with which eosin-5-maleimide (EM) reacts, is located in the external channel through which anions gain access to the external transport site, and that EM inhibits anion exchange by blocking this channel. To test this, we have used 35Cl nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to measure Cl- binding to the external transport site in control and EM-treated human red blood cells. Intact cells were used rather than ghosts, because in this case all line broadening (LB) results from binding to external sites. In an NMR spectrometer with a 9.4-T magnetic field, red blood cells at 50% concentration (v/v) in 150 mM Cl- medium at 3 degrees C caused 19.0 +/- 1.2 Hz LB. Of this, 7.9 +/- 0.7 Hz was due to Cl- binding to the high affinity band 3 transport sites, because it was prevented by an apparently competitive inhibitor of anion exchange, 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DNDS). The LB was not due to hemoglobin released from the cells, as little LB remained in the supernatant after cells were removed by centrifugation. Saturable Cl- binding remained in EM-treated cells, although the binding was no longer DNDS-sensitive, because EM prevents binding of DNDS. The lower limit for the rate at which Cl- goes from the binding site to the external medium is 2.15 x 10(5) s-1 for control cells and 1.10 x 10(5) s-1 for EM-treated cells, far higher than the Cl- translocation rate at 3 degrees C (about 400 s-1). Thus, EM does not inhibit Cl- exchange by blocking the external access channel. EM may therefore be useful for fixing band 3 in one conformation for studies of Cl- binding to the external transport site.     

Pre-steady state transport by erythrocyte band 3 protein: uphill countertransport induced by the impermeant inhibitor H2DIDS.

Pre-steady state Cl- efflux experiments have been performed to test directly the idea that the transport inhibitor H2DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanatodihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate) binds preferentially to the outward-facing state of the transporter. Cells were equilibrated with a medium consisting of 150 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.2, N2 atmosphere, and 80-250 microM 36Cl-. Addition of H2DIDS (10-fold molar excess compared with band 3) induces a transient efflux of Cl-, as expected if H2DIDS binds more tightly to outward-facing than to inward-facing states. The size of the H2DIDS-induced efflux depends on the Cl- concentration and is about 700,000 ions per cell at the highest concentrations tested. The size of the transient efflux is larger than would be expected if the catalytic cycle for anion exchange involved one pair of exchanging anions per band 3 dimer. These results are completely consistent with a ping-pong mechanism of anion exchange in which the catalytic cycle consists of one pair of exchanging anions per subunit of the band 3 dimer.     

Intracellular pH recovery from alkalinization. Characterization of chloride and bicarbonate transport by the anion exchange system of human neutrophils

The nature of the intracellular pH-regulatory mechanism after imposition of an alkaline load was investigated in isolated human peripheral blood neutrophils. Cells were alkalinized by removal of a DMO prepulse. The major part of the recovery could be ascribed to a Cl-/HCO3- counter-transport system: specifically, a one-for-one exchange of external Cl- for internal HCO3-. This exchange mechanism was sensitive to competitive inhibition by the cinnamate derivative UK-5099 (Ki approximately 1 microM). The half-saturation constants for binding of HCO3- and Cl- to the external translocation site of the carrier were approximately 2.5 and approximately 5.0 mM. In addition, other halides and lyotropic anions could substitute for external Cl-. These ions interacted with the exchanger in a sequence of decreasing affinities: HCO3- greater than Cl approximately NO3- approximately Br greater than I- approximately SCN- greater than PAH-. Glucuronate and SO4(2-) lacked any appreciable affinity. This rank order is reminiscent of the selectivity sequence for the principal anion exchanger in resting cells. Cl- and HCO3- displayed competition kinetics at both the internal and external binding sites of the carrier. Finally, evidence compatible with the existence of an approximately fourfold asymmetry (Michaelis constants inside greater than outside) between inward- and outward-facing states is presented. These results imply that a Cl-/HCO3- exchange mechanism, which displays several properties in common with the classical inorganic anion exchanger of erythrocytes, is primarily responsible for restoring the pHi of human neutrophils to its normal resting value after alkalinization.     

Use of niflumic acid to determine the nature of the asymmetry of the human erythrocyte anion exchange system

Niflumic acid is a noncompetitive inhibitor of chloride exchange, which binds to a site different from the transport or modifier sites. When the internal Cl- concentration is raised, at constant extracellular Cl- , the inhibitory potency of niflumic acid increases. This effect cannot be attributed to changes in membrane potential, but rather it suggests that niflumic acid binds to the anion exchange protein band 3 only when the transport site faces outward. When the chloride gradient is reversed, with Clo greater than Cli , the inhibitory potency of niflumic acid decreases greatly, which indicates that the affinity of niflumic acid for band 3 with the transport site facing inward is almost 50 times less than when the transport site faces outward. Experiments in which Cli = Clo show no significant change in the inhibition by niflumic acid when Cl- is lowered from 150 to 10 mM. These data suggest that the intrinsic dissociation constants for Cl- at the two sides of the membrane are nearly equal. Thus, the chloride- loaded transport sites have an asymmetric orientation like that of the unloaded transport sites, with approximately 15 times more sites facing the inside than the outside. The asymmetry reflects an approximately 1.5 kcal/mol free energy difference between the inward-facing and outward-facing chloride-loaded forms of band 3. High concentrations of chloride (with Cli = Clo), which partially saturate the modifier site, have no effect on niflumic acid inhibition, which indicates that chloride binds equally well to the modifier site regardless of the orientation of the transport site.     

Effects of external pH on substrate binding and on the inward chloride translocation rate constant of band 3

To test the hypothesis that amino acid residues in band 3 with titratable positive charges play a role in the binding of anions to the outside-facing transport site, we measured the effects of changing external pH (pH(O)) on the dissociation constant for binding of external iodide to the transport site, K(O)(I). K(O)(I) increased with increasing pH(O), and a significant increase was seen even at pH(O) values as low as 9.9. The dependence of K(O)(I) on pH(O) can be explained by a model with one titratable site with pK 9.5 +/- 0.2 (probably lysine), which increases anion affinity for the external transport site when it is in the positively charged form. A more complex model, analogous to one recently proposed by Bjerrum (1992), with two titratable sites, one with pK 9.3 +/- 0.3 (probably lysine) and another with pK > 11 (probably arginine), gives a slightly better fit to the data. Thus, titratable positively charged residues seem to be functionally important for the binding of substrate anions to the outward-facing anion transport site. In addition, analysis of Dixon plot slopes for L inhibition of Cl- exchange at different pH 0 values, coupled with the assumption that pH(O) has parallel effects on external I- and Cl- binding, indicates that k', the rate-constant for inward translocation of the complex of Cl- with the extracellular transport site, decreases with increasing pH(O). The data are compatible with a model in which titration of the pK 9.3 residue decreases k to 14 +/- 10% of its value at neutral pH(O). This result, however, together with Bjerrum's (1992) observation that the maximum flux J(M)) increases 1.6- fold when this residue is deprotonated, makes quantitative predictions that raise significant questions about the adequacy of the two titratable site ping-pong model or the assumptions used in analyzing the data.     

Unbiased simulations reveal the inward-facing conformation of the human serotonin transporter and Na(+) ion release

Monoamine transporters are responsible for termination of synaptic signaling and are involved in depression, control of appetite, and anxiety amongst other neurological processes. Despite extensive efforts, the structures of the monoamine transporters and the transport mechanism of ions and substrates are still largely unknown. Structural knowledge of the human serotonin transporter (hSERT) is much awaited for understanding the mechanistic details of substrate translocation and binding of antidepressants and drugs of abuse. The publication of the crystal structure of the homologous leucine transporter has resulted in homology models of the monoamine transporters. Here we present extended molecular dynamics simulations of an experimentally supported homology model of hSERT with and without the natural substrate yielding a total of more than 1.5 μs of simulation of the protein dimer. The simulations reveal a transition of hSERT from an outward-facing occluded conformation to an inward-facing conformation in a one-substrate-bound state. Simulations with a second substrate in the proposed symport effector site did not lead to conformational changes associated with translocation. The central substrate binding site becomes fully exposed to the cytoplasm leaving both the Na(+)-ion in the Na2-site and the substrate in direct contact with the cytoplasm through water interactions. The simulations reveal how sodium is released and show indications of early events of substrate transport. The notion that ion dissociation from the Na2-site drives translocation is supported by experimental studies of a Na2-site mutant. Transmembrane helices (TMs) 1 and 6 are identified as the helices involved in the largest movements during transport.     

A gating motif in the translocation channel sets the hydrophobicity threshold for signal sequence function

A critical event in protein translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum is the structural transition between the closed and open conformations of Sec61, the eukaryotic translocation channel. Channel opening allows signal sequence insertion into a gap between the N- and C-terminal halves of Sec61. We have identified a gating motif that regulates the transition between the closed and open channel conformations. Polar amino acid substitutions in the gating motif cause a gain-of-function phenotype that permits translocation of precursors with marginally hydrophobic signal sequences. In contrast, hydrophobic substitutions at certain residues in the gating motif cause a protein translocation defect. We conclude that the gating motif establishes the hydrophobicity threshold for functional insertion of a signal sequence into the Sec61 complex, thereby allowing the wild-type translocation channel to discriminate between authentic signal sequences and the less hydrophobic amino acid segments in cytosolic proteins. Bioinformatic analysis indicates that the gating motif is conserved between eubacterial and archaebacterial SecY and eukaryotic Sec61.     

Cl- channel inhibitors of the arylaminobenzoate type act as photosystem II herbicides: a functional and structural study

The Cl- channel blocker NPPB (5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid) inhibited photosynthetic oxygen evolution of isolated thylakoid membranes in a pH-dependent manner with a K(i) of about 2 microM at pH 6. Applying different electron acceptors, taking electrons either directly from photosystem II (PS II) or photosystem I (PS I), the site of inhibition was localized within PS II. Measurements of fluorescence induction kinetics and thermoluminescence suggest that the binding of NPPB to the QB binding site of PS II is similar to the herbicide DCMU (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea). The effects of different arylaminobenzoate derivatives and other Cl- channel inhibitors on photosynthetic electron transport were investigated. The structure--activity relationship of the inhibitory effect on PS II shows interesting parallels to the one observed for the arylaminobenzoate block of mammalian Cl- channels. A molecular modeling approach was used to fit NPPB into the QB binding site and to identify possible molecular interactions between NPPB and the amino acid residues of the binding site in PS II. Taken together, these data give a detailed molecular picture of the mechanism of NPPB binding.     

Exploring movement and energy in human P-glycoprotein conformational rearrangement

Human P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a kind of ATP-Binding Cassette transporter, can export a diverse variety of anti-cancer drugs out of the tumor cell. Its overexpression is one of the main reasons for the multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumor cells. It has been confirmed that during the substrate transport process, P-gp experiences a large-scale structural rearrangement from the inward- to outward-facing states. However, the mechanism of how the nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) control the transmembrane domains (TMDs) to open towards the periplasm in the outward-facing state has not yet been fully characterized. Herein, targeted molecular dynamics simulations were performed to explore the conformational rearrangement of human P-gp. The results show that the allosteric process proceeds in a coupled way, and first the transition is driven by the NBDs, and then transmitted to the cytoplasmic parts of TMDs, finally to the periplasmic parts. The trajectories show that besides the translational motions, the NBDs undergo a rotation movement, which mainly occurs in xy plane and ensures the formation of the correct ATP-binding pockets. The analyses on the interaction energies between the six structure segments (cICLs) from the TMDs and NBDs reveal that their subtle energy differences play an important role in causing the periplasmic parts of the transmembrane helices to separate from each other in the established directions and in appropriate amplitudes. This conclusion can explain the two experimental phenomena about human P-gp in some extent. These studies have provided a detailed exploration into human P-gp rearrangement process and given an energy insight into the TMD reorientation during P-gp transition.     

Conformational changes in dopamine transporter intracellular regions upon cocaine binding and dopamine translocation

The dopamine transporter (DAT), a member of the neurotransmitter:sodium symporter family, mediates the reuptake of dopamine at the synaptic cleft. DAT is the primary target for psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine. We previously demonstrated that cocaine binding and dopamine transport alter the accessibility of Cys342 in the third intracellular loop (IL3). To study the conformational changes associated with the functional mechanism of the transporter, we made cysteine substitution mutants, one at a time, from Phe332 to Ser351 in IL3 of the background DAT construct, X7C, in which 7 endogenous cysteines were mutated. The accessibility of the 20 engineered cysteines to polar charged sulfhydryl reagents was studied in the absence and presence of cocaine or dopamine. Of the 11 positions that reacted with methanethiosulfonate ethyl ammonium, as evidenced by inhibition of ligand binding, 5 were protected against this inhibition by cocaine and dopamine (S333C, S334C, N336C, M342C and T349C), indicating that reagent accessibility is affected by conformational changes associated with inhibitor and substrate binding. In some of the cysteine mutants, transport activity is disrupted, but can be rescued by the presence of zinc, most likely because the distribution between inward- and outward-facing conformations is restored by zinc binding. The experimental data were interpreted in the context of molecular models of DAT in both the inward- and outward-facing conformations. Differences in the solvent accessible surface area for individual IL3 residues calculated for these states correlate well with the experimental accessibility data, and suggest that protection by ligand binding results from the stabilization of the outward-facing configuration. Changes in the residue interaction networks observed from the molecular dynamics simulations also revealed the critical roles of several positions during the conformational transitions. We conclude that the IL3 region of DAT undergoes significant conformational changes in transitions necessary for both cocaine binding and substrate transport.     

Conformational Cycle of the ABC Transporter MsbA in Liposomes: Detailed Analysis Using Double Electron-Electron Resonance Spectroscopy

Driven by the energy of ATP binding and hydrolysis, ATP-binding cassette transporters alternate between inward- and outward-facing conformations, allowing vectorial movement of substrates. Conflicting models have been proposed to describe the conformational motion underlying this switch in access of the transport pathway. One model, based on three crystal structures of the lipid flippase MsbA, envisions a large-amplitude motion that disengages the nucleotide-binding domains and repacks the transmembrane helices. To test this model and place the crystal structures in a mechanistic context, we use spin labeling and double electron-electron resonance spectroscopy to define the nature and amplitude of MsbA conformational change during ATP hydrolysis cycle. For this purpose, spin labels were introduced at sites selected to provide a distinctive pattern of distance changes unique to the crystallographic transformation. Distance changes in liposomes, induced by the transition from nucleotide-free MsbA to the highest energy intermediate, fit a simple pattern whereby residues on the cytoplasmic side undergo 20-30 Å closing motion while a 7- to 10-Å opening motion is observed on the extracellular side. The transmembrane helices undergo relative movement to create the outward opening consistent with that implied by the crystal structures. Double electron-electron resonance distance distributions reveal asymmetric backbone flexibility on the two sides of the transporter that correlates with asymmetric opening of the substrate-binding chamber. Together with extensive accessibility analysis, our results suggest that these structures capture features of the motion that couples ATP energy expenditure to work, providing a framework for the mechanism of substrate transport.     

Direct observation of the transmembrane recruitment of band 3 transport sites by competitive inhibitors. A 35Cl NMR study

Numerous models describing anion exchange across the red cell membrane by band 3 have been discussed in literature. These models are readily distinguished from one another by an experiment which tests the ability of band 3 transport sites to be recruited to one side of the membrane. In order to observe directly the transmembrane recruitment of transport sites, we have developed 35Cl NMR techniques that resolve the two transport site populations on opposite sides of the membrane. Using these techniques, we show that the inhibitors 4,4'- dinitrostilbene -2,2'-disulfonate and p- nitrobenzensulfonate each recruit all of the transport sites on both sides of the membrane to the extracellular facing conformation. This result indicates that band 3 has an alternating site transport mechanism: each band 3 transport unit possesses a single functional transport site which is alternately exposed first to one side of the membrane then to the other.     

Ligand-protein interaction in biomembrane carriers. The induced transition fit of transport catalysis

Carrier-linked transport through biomembranes is treated under the view of catalysis. As in enzymes, substrate-protein interaction yields catalytic energy in overcoming the activation barrier. At variance with enzymes, catalytic energy is concentrated on structural changes of the carrier rather than on the substrate destabilization for facilitating the global protein rearrangements during transport. A transition state is invoked in which the binding site assumes the best fit to the substrate, whereas in the two ground (internal and external) states, the fit is poor. The maximum binding energy released in the transition state provides catalytic energy to enable the large carrier protein transformations associated with transport. This "induced transition fit" (ITF) of carrier catalysis provides a framework of rules, concerning specificity, unidirectional versus exchange type transport, directing inhibitors to the ground state instead of the transition state, and excluding simultaneous chemical and transport catalysis (vectorial group translocation). The possible role of external energy sources (ATP and Deltapsi) in supplementing the catalytic energy is elucidated. The analysis of the structure-function relationship based on new carrier structures may be challenged to account for the workings of the ITF.     

Kinetic evidence is consistent with the rocker-switch mechanism of membrane transport by GlpT

Secondary active transport of substrate across the cell membrane is crucial to many cellular and physiological processes. The crystal structure of one member of the secondary active transporter family, the sn-glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) transporter (GlpT) of the inner membrane of Escherichia coli, suggests a mechanism for substrate translocation across the membrane that involves a rocker-switch-type movement of the protein. This rocker-switch mechanism makes two specific predictions with respect to kinetic behavior: the transport rate increases with the temperature, whereas the binding affinity of the transporter to a substrate is temperature-independent. In this work, we directly tested these two predictions by transport kinetics and substrate-binding experiments, integrating the data on this single system into a coherent set of observations. The transport kinetics of the physiologically relevant G3P-phosphate antiport reaction were characterized at different temperatures using both E. coli whole cells and GlpT reconstituted into proteoliposomes. Substrate-binding affinity of the transporter was measured using tryptophan fluorescence quenching in detergent solution. Indeed, the substrate transport velocity of GlpT increased dramatically with temperature. In contrast, neither the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) nor the apparent substrate-binding dissociation constant (Kd) showed temperature dependence. Moreover, GlpT-catalyzed G3P translocation exhibited a completely linear Arrhenius function with an activation energy of 35.2 kJ mol-1 for the transporter reconstituted into proteoliposomes, suggesting that the substrate-loaded transporter is delicately poised between the inward- and outward-facing conformations. When these results are taken together, they are in agreement with a rocker-switch mechanism for GlpT.