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Gating of TonB-dependent transporters by substrate-specific forced remodelling

Author

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  • Samuel J. Hickman

    (School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds
    Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds)

  • Rachael E. M. Cooper

    (School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds)

  • Luca Bellucci

    (NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR)

  • Emanuele Paci

    (School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds
    Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds)

  • David J. Brockwell

    (School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds
    Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds)

Abstract

Membrane proteins play vital roles in inside-out and outside-in signal transduction by responding to inputs that include mechanical stimuli. Mechanical gating may be mediated by the membrane or by protein(s) but evidence for the latter is scarce. Here we use force spectroscopy, protein engineering and bacterial growth assays to investigate the effects of force on complexes formed between TonB and TonB-dependent transporters (TBDT) from Gram-negative bacteria. We confirm the feasibility of protein-only mediated mechanical gating by demonstrating that the interaction between TonB and BtuB (a TBDT) is sufficiently strong under force to create a channel through the TBDT. In addition, by comparing the dimensions of the force-induced channel in BtuB and a second TBDT (FhuA), we show that the mechanical properties of the interaction are perfectly tuned to their function by inducing formation of a channel whose dimensions are tailored to the ligand.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel J. Hickman & Rachael E. M. Cooper & Luca Bellucci & Emanuele Paci & David J. Brockwell, 2017. "Gating of TonB-dependent transporters by substrate-specific forced remodelling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms14804
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14804
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