title: Cation Diffusion Facilitator family: Structure and function.
abstract: The Cation Diffusion Facilitators (CDFs) form a family of membrane-bound proteins capable of transporting zinc and other heavy metal ions. Involved in metal tolerance/resistance by efflux of ions, CDF proteins share a two-modular architecture consisting of a transmembrane domain (TMD) and C-terminal domain (CTD) that protrudes into the cytoplasm. Discovery of a Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ CDF transporter from a marine bacterium Maricaulis maris that does not possess the CTD questions current perceptions regarding this family of proteins. This article describes a new, CTD-lacking subfamily of CDFs and our current knowledge about this family of proteins in the view of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Environmental Sciences, and Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kolaj-Robin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Environmental Sciences, and Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Environmental Sciences, and Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Environmental Sciences, and Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: J Tony
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Pembroke
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Environmental Sciences, and Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. Electronic address: Tewfik.soulimane@ul.ie.
authors.forename: Tewfik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soulimane
mesh_terms: D020561:Alphaproteobacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D001692:Biological Transport; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010802:Phylogeny; D011487:Protein Conformation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D020033:Protein Isoforms
keywords: Cation Diffusion Facilitator; Maricaulis maris; Membrane protein; Zinc transporter