Dimeric structure of the uracil:proton symporter UraA provides mechanistic insights into the SLC4/23/26 transporters

Xinzhe Yu, Guanghui Yang, Chuangye Yan, Javier L. Baylon, Jing Jiang, He Fan, Guifeng Lu, Kazuya Hasegawa, Hideo Okumura, Tingliang Wang, Emad Tajkhorshid, Shuo Li, Nieng Yan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Escherichia coli uracil:proton symporter UraA is a prototypical member of the nucleobase/ascorbate transporter (NAT) or nucleobase/cation symporter 2 (NCS2) family, which corresponds to the human solute carrier family SLC23. UraA consists of 14 transmembrane segments (TMs) that are organized into two distinct domains, the core domain and the gate domain, a structural fold that is also shared by the SLC4 and SLC26 transporters. Here we present the crystal structure of UraA bound to uracil in an occluded state at 2.5 Å resolution. Structural comparison with the previously reported inward-open UraA reveals pronounced relative motions between the core domain and the gate domain as well as intra-domain rearrangement of the gate domain. The occluded UraA forms a dimer in the structure wherein the gate domains are sandwiched by two core domains. In vitro and in vivo biochemical characterizations show that UraA is at equilibrium between dimer and monomer in all tested detergent micelles, while dimer formation is necessary for the transport activity. Structural comparison between the dimeric UraA and the recently reported inward-facing dimeric UapA provides important insight into the transport mechanism of SLC23 transporters.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1020-1033
Number of pages14
JournalCell Research
Volume27
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Keywords

  • Alternating access
  • Conformational change
  • Uracil/proton symporter

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