A monotopic membrane protein goes solo.
Carnitine palmitoyltransferases (CPTs) are part of the enzymatic system that imports fatty acids into mitochondria. The crystal structure of rat CPT-2 by Rufer et al. (2006) (this issue of Structure) reveals a Y-shaped tunnel for binding the CoA and acyl-carnitine substrates and a hydrophobic insert mediating membrane association.
Mattevi
Andrea
A
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002384:Catalysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D003065:Coenzyme A / Q000737:chemistry; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D013379:Substrate Specificity
D005227:Fatty Acids; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C116917:acylcarnitine; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase; D002331:Carnitine; D003065:Coenzyme A