Structures of intermediate transport states of ZneA, a Zn(II)/proton antiporter

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Nov 12;110(46):18484-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1318705110. Epub 2013 Oct 30.

Abstract

Efflux pumps belonging to the ubiquitous resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily transport substrates out of cells by coupling proton conduction across the membrane to a conformationally driven pumping cycle. The heavy metal-resistant bacteria Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 relies notably on as many as 12 heavy metal efflux pumps of the RND superfamily. Here we show that C. metallidurans CH34 ZneA is a proton driven efflux pump specific for Zn(II), and that transport of substrates through the transmembrane domain may be electrogenic. We report two X-ray crystal structures of ZneA in intermediate transport conformations, at 3.0 and 3.7 Å resolution. The trimeric ZneA structures capture protomer conformations that differ in the spatial arrangement and Zn(II) occupancies at a proximal and a distal substrate binding site. Structural comparison shows that transport of substrates through a tunnel that links the two binding sites, toward an exit portal, is mediated by the conformation of a short 14-aa loop. Taken together, the ZneA structures presented here provide mechanistic insights into the conformational changes required for substrate efflux by RND superfamily transporters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiporters / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Biological Transport / genetics
  • Crystallization
  • Cupriavidus / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Protons*
  • X-Ray Diffraction
  • Zinc / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antiporters
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Protons
  • Zinc

Associated data

  • PDB/4K0E
  • PDB/4K0J