Amino Acid-polyamine-organocation Superfamily Research Articles

Molecular Mechanisms of Thyroid Hormone Transport by l-Type Amino Acid Transporter.

Thyroid hormones (TH) pass through the plasma membrane into the target cells via transporter proteins. Thyroid hormone transporters that have been identified until now belong to two different solute carrier (SLC) subfamilies i) the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) and ii) the amino acid polyamine-organocation (APC) superfamily. Both are comprised by 12 transmembrane helices, however with different structural topology. The TH transporter MCT8, MCT10 and OATP1C1 are members of the MSF. The l-type amino acid transporters (LATs) are transporting neutral amino acids across the membrane. Two LAT subtypes, LAT1 and LAT2 are members of the APC superfamily, need the escort protein 4F2hc and facilitate uptake but no efflux of TH-subtypes. Homology models of LAT2 that are based on crystal structures of APC transporters guided mutagenesis, revealed molecular structure-function determinants for recognition and transition for import and export of TH-subtypes. The recently solved cryo-EM structure of LAT1 confirmed the structural input. Two other LAT subtypes, LAT3 and LAT4 are members of the MFS. From previous observed negative effect of LAT3 and LAT4 on 3,3'-T2 uptake by LAT1 and LAT2 it was indirectly concluded that LAT3 might export 3,3'-T2. There are still open questions that need to be addressed in order to fully understand the molecular recognition pattern and traversing mechanism of import and export of particular TH-subtypes by LAT1 and LAT2. Moreover, clarification is needed whether LAT3 and LAT4 are exporting TH. Recent new data could not verify the initial hypothesis of TH export by LAT3. Therefore, further investigations are necessary to explain the negative effect of LAT3 on the TH import by LAT2.

Function and Regulation of Acid Resistance Antiporters.

Bacterial pathogens are a major cause of foodborne diseases and food poisoning. To cope with the acid conditions encountered in different environments such as in fermented food or in the gastric compartment, neutralophilic bacteria have developed several adaptive mechanisms. One of those mechanisms, the amino acid dependent system, consumes intracellular protons in biochemical reactions. It involves an antiporter that facilitates the exchange of external substrate amino acid for internal product and a cytoplasmic decarboxylase that catalyzes a proton-consuming decarboxylation of the substrate. So far, four acid resistance antiporters have been discovered, namely the glutamate-γ-aminobutyric acid antiporter GadC, the arginine-agmatine antiporter AdiC, the lysine-cadaverine antiporter CadB, and the ornithine-putrescine antiporter PotE. The 3D structures of AdiC and GadC, reveal an inverted-repeat fold of two times 5 transmembrane helices, typical of the amino acid-polyamine-organocation (APC) superfamily of transporters. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the transport mechanism, the pH regulation and the selectivity of these four acid resistance antiporters. It also highlights that AdiC is a paradigm for eukaryotic amino acid transporters of the APC superfamily as structural models of several of these transporters built using AdiC structures were exploited to unveil their mechanisms of amino acid recognition and translocation.

Resculpting the binding pocket of APC superfamily LeuT-fold amino acid transporters

Amino acid transporters are essential components of prokaryote and eukaryote cells, possess distinct physiological functions, and differ markedly in substrate specificity. Amino acid transporters can be both drug targets and drug transporters (bioavailability, targeting) with many monogenic disorders resulting from dysfunctional membrane transport. The largest collection of amino acid transporters (including the mammalian SLC6, SLC7, SLC32, SLC36, and SLC38 families), across all kingdoms of life, is within the Amino acid-Polyamine-organoCation (APC) superfamily. The LeuT-fold is a paradigm structure for APC superfamily amino acid transporters and carriers of sugars, neurotransmitters, electrolytes, osmolytes, vitamins, micronutrients, signalling molecules, and organic and fatty acids. Each transporter is specific for a unique sub-set of solutes, specificity being determined by how well a substrate fits into each binding pocket. However, the molecular basis of substrate selectivity remains, by and large, elusive. Using an integrated computational and experimental approach, we demonstrate that a single position within the LeuT-fold can play a crucial role in determining substrate specificity in mammalian and arthropod amino acid transporters within the APC superfamily. Systematic mutation of the amino acid residue occupying the equivalent position to LeuT V104 titrates binding pocket space resulting in dramatic changes in substrate selectivity in exemplar APC amino acid transporters including PAT2 (SLC36A2) and SNAT5 (SLC38A5). Our work demonstrates how a single residue/site within an archetypal structural motif can alter substrate affinity and selectivity within this important superfamily of diverse membrane transporters.

Structure of the SLC4 transporter Bor1p in an inward-facing conformation.

Bor1p is a secondary transporter in yeast that is responsible for boron transport. Bor1p belongs to the SLC4 family which controls bicarbonate exchange and pH regulation in animals as well as borate uptake in plants. The SLC4 family is more distantly related to members of the Amino acid-Polyamine-organoCation (APC) superfamily, which includes well studied transporters such as LeuT, Mhp1, AdiC, vSGLT, UraA, SLC26Dg. Their mechanism generally involves relative movements of two domains: a core domain that binds substrate and a gate domain that in many cases mediates dimerization. To shed light on conformational changes governing transport by the SLC4 family, we grew helical membrane crystals of Bor1p from Saccharomyces mikatae and determined a structure at ∼6 Å resolution using cryo-electron microscopy. To evaluate the conformation of Bor1p in these crystals, a homology model was built based on the related anion exchanger from red blood cells (AE1). This homology model was fitted to the cryo-EM density map using the Molecular Dynamics (MD) Flexible Fitting method and then relaxed by all-atom MD simulation in explicit solvent and membrane. Mapping of water accessibility indicates that the resulting structure represents an inward-facing conformation. Comparisons of the resulting Bor1p model with the X-ray structure of AE1 in an outward-facing conformation, together with MD simulations of inward-facing and outward-facing Bor1p models, suggest rigid body movements of the core domain relative to the gate domain. These movements are consistent with the rocking-bundle transport mechanism described for other members of the APC superfamily.

YjeH Is a Novel Exporter of l-Methionine and Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Escherichia coli.

Amino acid efflux transport systems have important physiological functions and play vital roles in the fermentative production of amino acids. However, no methionine exporter has yet been identified in Escherichia coli. In this study, we identified a novel amino acid exporter, YjeH, in E. coli. The yjeH overexpression strain exhibited high tolerance to the structural analogues of l-methionine and branched-chain amino acids, decreased intracellular amino acid levels, and enhanced export rates in the presence of a Met-Met, Leu-Leu, Ile-Ile, or Val-Val dipeptide, suggesting that YjeH functions as an exporter of l-methionine and the three branched-chain amino acids. The export of the four amino acids in the yjeH overexpression strain was competitively inhibited in relation to each other. The expression of yjeH was strongly induced by increasing cytoplasmic concentrations of substrate amino acids. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged YjeH was visualized by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to confirm the plasma membrane localization of YjeH. Phylogenetic analysis of transporters indicated that YjeH belongs to the amino acid efflux family of the amino acid/polyamine/organocation (APC) superfamily. Structural modeling revealed that YjeH has the typical "5 + 5" transmembrane α-helical segment (TMS) inverted-repeat fold of APC superfamily transporters, and its binding sites are strictly conserved. The enhanced capacity of l-methionine export by the overexpression of yjeH in an l-methionine-producing strain resulted in a 70% improvement in titer. This study supplements the transporter classification and provides a substantial basis for the application of the methionine exporter in metabolic engineering.

Functional characterization of a member of alanine or glycine: cation symporter family in halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica.

Membrane proteins of amino acid-polyamine-organocation (APC) superfamily transport amino acids and amines across membranes and play important roles in the regulation of cellular processes. The alanine or glycine: cation symporter (AGCS) family belongs to APC superfamily and is found in prokaryotes, but its substrate specificity remains to be clarified. In this study, we found that a halotolerant cyanobacterium, Aphanothece halophytica has two putative ApagcS genes. The deduced amino acid sequence of one of genes, ApagcS1, exhibited high homology to Pseudomonas AgcS. The ApagcS1 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli JW4166 which is deficient in glycine uptake. Kinetics studies in JW4166 revealed that ApAgcS1 is a sodium-dependent glycine transporter. Competition experiments showed the significant inhibition by glutamine, asparagine, and glycine. The level of mRNA for ApagcS1 was induced by NaCl and nitrogen-deficient stresses. Uptake of glutamine by ApAgcS1 was also observed. Based on these data, the physiological role of ApAgcS1 was discussed.

Expansion of the APC superfamily of secondary carriers.

The amino acid-polyamine-organoCation (APC) superfamily is the second largest superfamily of secondary carriers currently known. In this study, we establish homology between previously recognized APC superfamily members and proteins of seven new families. These families include the PAAP (Putative Amino Acid Permease), LIVCS (Branched Chain Amino Acid:Cation Symporter), NRAMP (Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophage Protein), CstA (Carbon starvation A protein), KUP (K⁺ Uptake Permease), BenE (Benzoate:H⁺ Virginia Symporter), and AE (Anion Exchanger). The topology of the well-characterized human Anion Exchanger 1 (AE1) conforms to a UraA-like topology of 14 TMSs (12 α-helical TMSs and 2 mixed coil/helical TMSs). All functionally characterized members of the APC superfamily use cation symport for substrate accumulation except for some members of the AE family which frequently use anion:anion exchange. We show how the different topologies fit into the framework of the common LeuT-like fold, defined earlier (Proteins. 2014 Feb;82(2):336-46), and determine that some of the new members contain previously undocumented topological variations. All new entries contain the two 5 or 7 TMS APC superfamily repeat units, sometimes with extra TMSs at the ends, the variations being greatest within the CstA family. New, functionally characterized members transport amino acids, peptides, and inorganic anions or cations. Except for anions, these are typical substrates of established APC superfamily members. Active site TMSs are rich in glycyl residues in variable but conserved constellations. This work expands the APC superfamily and our understanding of its topological variations.

A l-Lysine Transporter of High Stereoselectivity of the Amino Acid-Polyamine-Organocation (APC) Superfamily: PRODUCTION, FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION, AND STRUCTURE MODELING

Membrane proteins of the amino acid-polyamine-organocation (APC) superfamily transport amino acids and amines across membranes and play an important role in the regulation of cellular processes. We report the heterologous production of the LysP-related transporter STM2200 from Salmonella typhimurium in Escherichia coli, its purification, and functional characterization. STM2200 is assumed to be a proton-dependent APC transporter of L-lysine. The functional interaction between basic amino acids and STM2200 was investigated by thermoanalytical methods, i.e. differential scanning and isothermal titration calorimetry. Binding of L-lysine to STM2200 in its solubilized monomer form is entropy-driven. It is characterized by a dissociation constant of 40 μm at pH 5.9 and is highly selective; no evidence was found for the binding of L-arginine, L-ornithine, L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid, and L-alanine. D-lysine is bound 45 times more weakly than its L-chiral form. We thus postulate that STM2200 functions as a specific transport protein. Based on the crystal structure of ApcT (Shaffer, P. L., Goehring, A., Shankaranarayanan, A., and Gouaux, E. (2009) Science 325, 1010-1014), a proton-dependent amino acid transporter of the APC superfamily, a homology model of STM2200 was created. Docking studies allowed identification of possible ligand binding sites. The resulting predictions indicated that Glu-222 and Arg-395 of STM2200 are markedly involved in ligand binding, whereas Lys-163 is suggested to be of structural and functional relevance. Selected variants of STM2200 where these three amino acid residues were substituted using single site-directed mutagenesis showed no evidence for L-lysine binding by isothermal titration calorimetry, which confirmed the predictions. Molecular aspects of the observed ligand specificity are discussed.

Evolutionary relationship between 5+5 and 7+7 inverted repeat folds within the amino acid-polyamine-organocation superfamily

Evidence has been presented that 5+5 TMS and 7+7 TMS inverted repeat fold transporters are members of a single superfamily named the Amino acid-Polyamine-organoCation (APC) superfamily. However, the evolutionary relationship between the 5+5 and the 7+7 topological types has not been established. We have identified a common fold, consisting of a spiny membrane helix/sheet, followed by a U-like structure and a V-like structure that is recurrent between domain duplicated units of 5+5 and 7+7 inverted repeat folds. This fold is found in the following protein structures: AdiC, ApcT, LeuT, Mhp1, BetP, CaiT, and SglT (all 5+5 TMS repeats), as well as UraA and SulP (7+7 TMS repeats). AdiC, LeuT and Mhp1 have two extra TMSs after the second duplicated domain, SglT has four extra C-terminal TMSs, and BetP has two extra TMSs before the first duplicated domain. UraA and SulP on the other hand have two extra TMSs at the N-terminus of each duplicated domain unit. These observations imply that multiple hairpin and domain duplication events occurred during the evolution of the APC superfamily. We suggest that the five TMS architecture was primordial and that families gained two TMSs on either side of this basic structure via dissimilar hairpin duplications either before or after intragenic duplication. Evidence for homology between TMSs 1-2 of AdiC and TMSs 1-2 and 3-4 of UraA suggests that the 7+7 topology arose via an internal duplication of the N-terminal hairpin loop within the five TMS repeat unit followed by duplication of the 7 TMS domain.

Substrate Selectivity of the Acid-activated Glutamate/γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) Antiporter GadC from Escherichia coli

GadC, a central component of the Escherichia coli acid resistance system, is a Glu/GABA antiporter. A previous structural study and biochemical characterization showed that GadC exhibits a stringent pH dependence for substrate transport, with no detectable activity at pH values above 6.5. However, the substrate selectivity and the mechanism of pH-dependent transport activity of GadC remain enigmatic. In this study, we demonstrate that GadC selectively transports Glu with no net charge and GABA with a positive charge. A C-plug-truncated variant of GadC (residues 1-470) transported Gln (a mimic of Glu with no net charge), but not Glu, even at pH 8.0. The pH-dependent transport of Gln by this GadC variant was shifted ~1 unit toward a higher pH compared with Glu transport. Taken together, the results identify the substrate selectivity for GadC and show that the protonation states of substrates are crucial for transport.

Loop Diuretic and Ion-binding Residues Revealed by Scanning Mutagenesis of Transmembrane Helix 3 (TM3) of Na-K-Cl Cotransporter (NKCC1)

The Na-K-Cl cotransporter (NKCC) plays central roles in cellular chloride homeostasis and in epithelial salt transport, but to date little is known about the mechanism by which the transporter moves ions across the membrane. We examined the functional role of transmembrane helix 3 (TM3) in NKCC1 using cysteine- and tryptophan-scanning mutagenesis and analyzed our results in the context of a structural homology model based on an alignment of NKCC1 with other amino acid polyamine organocation superfamily members, AdiC and ApcT. Mutations of residues along one face of TM3 (Tyr-383, Met-382, Ala-379, Asn-376, Ala-375, Phe-372, Gly-369, and Ile-368) had large effects on translocation rate, apparent ion affinities, and loop diuretic affinity, consistent with a proposed role of TM3 in the translocation pathway. The prediction that Met-382 is part of an extracellular gate that closes to form an occluded state is strongly supported by conformational sensitivity of this residue to 2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl methanethiosulfonate, and the bumetanide insensitivity of M382W is consistent with tryptophan blocking entry of bumetanide into the cavity. Substitution effects on residues at the intracellular end of TM3 suggest that this region is also involved in ion coordination and may be part of the translocation pathway in an inward-open conformation. Mutations of predicted pore residues had large effects on binding of bumetanide and furosemide, consistent with the hypothesis that loop diuretic drugs bind within the translocation cavity. The results presented here strongly support predictions of homology models of NKCC1 and demonstrate important roles for TM3 residues in ion translocation and loop diuretic inhibition.

The Amino Acid-Polyamine-Organocation Superfamily

The amino acid-polyamine-organocation (APC) superfamily has been shown to include five recognized families, four of which are specific for amino acids and their derivatives. Recent high-resolution X-ray crystallographic data have shown that four additional transporter families (BCCT, TC No. 2.A.15; SSS, 2.A.21; NSS, 2.A.22; and NCS1, 2.A.39), transporting a wide range of solutes, exhibit sufficiently similar folds to suggest a common evolutionary origin. We have used established statistical methods, based on sequence similarity, to show that these families are, in fact, members of the APC superfamily. We also identify two additional families (NCS2, 2.A.40; SulP, 2.A.53) as being members of this superfamily. Repeat sequences, each having five transmembrane α-helical segments and arising via ancient intragenic duplications, are demonstrated for all of these families, further strengthening the conclusion of homology. The APC superfamily appears to be the second largest superfamily of secondary carriers, the largest being the major facilitator superfamily (MFS). Although the topology of the members of the APC superfamily differs from that of the MFS, both families appear to have arisen from a common ancestral 2 TMS hairpin structure that underwent intragenic triplication followed by loss of a TMS in the APC family, to give the repeat units that are characteristic of these two superfamilies.

Genome Expansion and Differential Expression of Amino Acid Transporters at the Aphid/Buchnera Symbiotic Interface

In insects, some of the most ecologically important symbioses are nutritional symbioses that provide hosts with novel traits and thereby facilitate exploitation of otherwise inaccessible niches. One such symbiosis is the ancient obligate intracellular symbiosis of aphids with the γ-proteobacteria, Buchnera aphidicola. Although the nutritional basis of the aphid/Buchnera symbiosis is well understood, the processes and structures that mediate the intimate interactions of symbiotic partners remain uncharacterized. Here, using a de novo approach, we characterize the complement of 40 amino acid polyamine organocation (APC) superfamily member amino acid transporters (AATs) encoded in the genome of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. We find that the A. pisum APC superfamily is characterized by extensive gene duplications such that A. pisum has more APC superfamily transporters than other fully sequenced insects, including a ten paralog aphid-specific expansion of the APC transporter slimfast. Detailed expression analysis of 17 transporters selected on the basis of their phylogenetic relationship to five AATs identified in an earlier bacteriocyte expressed sequence tag study distinguished a subset of eight transporters that have been recruited for amino acid transport in bacteriocyte cells at the symbiotic interface. These eight transporters include transporters that are highly expressed and/or highly enriched in bacteriocytes and intriguingly, the four AATs that show bacteriocyte-enriched expression are all members of gene family expansions, whereas three of the four that are highly expressed but not enriched in bacteriocytes retain one-to-one orthology with transporters in other genomes. Finally, analysis of evolutionary rates within the large A. pisum slimfast expansion demonstrated increased rates of molecular evolution coinciding with two major shifts in expression: 1) a loss of gut expression and possibly a gain of bacteriocyte expression and 2) loss of expression in all surveyed tissues in asexual females. Taken together, our characterization of nutrient AATs at the aphid/Buchnera symbiotic interface provides the first examination of the processes and structures operating at the interface of an obligate intracellular insect nutritional symbiosis, offering unique insight into the types of genomic change that likely facilitated evolutionary maintenance of the symbiosis.

Projection Structure of a Member of the Amino Acid/Polyamine/Organocation Transporter Superfamily

The L-arginine/agmatine antiporter AdiC is a key component of the arginine-dependent extreme acid resistance system of Escherichia coli. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that AdiC belongs to the amino acid/polyamine/organocation (APC) transporter superfamily having sequence identities of 15-17% to eukaryotic and human APC transporters. For functional and structural characterization, we cloned, overexpressed, and purified wild-type AdiC and the point mutant AdiC-W293L, which is unable to bind and consequently transport L-arginine. Purified detergent-solubilized AdiC particles were dimeric. Reconstitution experiments yielded two-dimensional crystals of AdiC-W293L diffracting beyond 6 angstroms resolution from which we determined the projection structure at 6.5 angstroms resolution. The projection map showed 10-12 density peaks per monomer and suggested mainly tilted helices with the exception of one distinct perpendicular membrane spanning alpha-helix. Comparison of AdiC-W293L with the projection map of the oxalate/formate antiporter from Oxalobacter formigenes, a member from the major facilitator superfamily, indicated different structures. Thus, two-dimensional crystals of AdiC-W293L yielded the first detailed view of a transport protein from the APC superfamily at sub-nanometer resolution.

Identification and Characterization of a Polyamine Permease from the Protozoan Parasite Leishmania major

The proteins that mediate polyamine translocation into eukaryotic cells have not been identified at the molecular level. To define the polyamine transport pathways in eukaryotic cells we have cloned a gene, LmPOT1, that encodes a polyamine transporter from the protozoan pathogen, Leishmania major. Sequence analysis of LmPOT1 predicted an unusual 803-residue polytopic protein with 9-12 transmembrane domains. Expression of LmPOT1 cRNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed LmPOT1 to be a high affinity transporter for both putrescine and spermidine, whereas expression of LmPOT1 in Trypanosoma brucei stimulated putrescine uptake that was sensitive to inhibition by pentamidine and proton ionophores. Immunoblot analysis established that LmPOT1 was expressed predominantly in the insect vector form of L. major, and immunofluorescence demonstrated that LmPOT1 was localized predominantly to the parasite plasma membrane. To our knowledge this is the first molecular identification and characterization of a cell surface polyamine transporter in eukaryotic cells.

Identification of the L-aspartate transporter in Bacillus subtilis.

YveA of Bacillus subtilis, a putative transporter of the amino acid/polyamine/organocation (APC) superfamily, is shown to mediate uptake of both L-aspartate and L-glutamate as well as having sensitivity to L-aspartate hydroxamate. This 14 TMS protein is the primary aspartate uptake system in B. subtilis and serves as the prototype for a new family within the APC superfamily.

The amino acid/polyamine/organocation (APC) superfamily of transporters specific for amino acids, polyamines and organocations.

In this paper an analysis of 175 currently sequenced transport proteins that comprise the amino acid/polyamine/organocation (APC) superfamily is reported. Members of this superfamily fall into 10 well-defined families that are either prokaryote specific, eukaryote specific or ubiquitous. Most of these proteins exhibit 12 probable transmembrane spanners (TMSs), but members of two of these families deviate from this pattern, exhibiting 10 and 14 TMSs. All members of these families are tabulated, their functional properties are reviewed and phylogenetic/sequence analyses define the evolutionary relationships of the proteins to each other. Evidence is presented that the APC superfamily may include two other currently recognized families that exhibit greater degrees of sequence divergence from APC superfamily members than do the proteins of the 10 established families from each other. At least some of the protein members of these two distantly related families exhibit 11 established TMSs. Altogether, the APC superfamily probably includes 12 currently recognized families with members that exhibit exclusive specificity for amino acids and their derivatives but which can possess 10, 11, 12 or 14 TMSs per polypeptide chain.