title: Protonation drives the conformational switch in the multidrug transporter LmrP.
abstract: Multidrug antiporters of the major facilitator superfamily couple proton translocation to the extrusion of cytotoxic molecules. The conformational changes that underlie the transport cycle and the structural basis of coupling of these transporters have not been elucidated. Here we used extensive double electron-electron resonance measurements to uncover the conformational equilibrium of LmrP, a multidrug transporter from Lactococcus lactis, and to investigate how protons and ligands shift this equilibrium to enable transport. We find that the transporter switches between outward-open and outward-closed conformations, depending on the protonation states of specific acidic residues forming a transmembrane protonation relay. Our data can be framed in a model of transport wherein substrate binding initiates the transport cycle by opening the extracellular side. Subsequent protonation of membrane-embedded acidic residues induces substrate release to the extracellular side and triggers a cascade of conformational changes that concludes in proton release to the intracellular side.
authors: 1] Laboratory for the Structure and Function of Biological Membranes, Center for Structural Biology and Bioinformatics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. [2].
authors: Matthieu
authors: M
authors: Masureel
authors: 1] Laboratory for the Structure and Function of Biological Membranes, Center for Structural Biology and Bioinformatics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. [2].
authors: Chloé
authors: C
authors: Martens
authors: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors: Richard A
authors: RA
authors: Stein
authors: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors: Smriti
authors: S
authors: Mishra
authors: Laboratory for the Structure and Function of Biological Membranes, Center for Structural Biology and Bioinformatics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Jean-Marie
authors: JM
authors: Ruysschaert
authors: 1] Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. [2].
authors: Hassane S
authors: HS
authors: Mchaourab
authors: 1] Laboratory for the Structure and Function of Biological Membranes, Center for Structural Biology and Bioinformatics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. [2].
authors: Cédric
authors: C
authors: Govaerts
mesh_terms: D017920:Antiporters / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008024:Ligands; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D055550:Protein Stability; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D017920:Antiporters; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008024:Ligands; C096807:LmrP protein, Lactococcus lactis; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D011522:Protons