Synergism between halide binding and proton transport in a CLC-type exchanger

J Mol Biol. 2006 Sep 29;362(4):691-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2006.07.081. Epub 2006 Aug 2.

Abstract

The Cl-/H+ exchange-transporter CLC-ec1 mediates stoichiometric transmembrane exchange of two Cl- ions for one proton. A conserved tyrosine residue, Y445, coordinates one of the bound Cl- ions visible in the structure of this protein and is located near the intersection of the Cl- and H+ pathways. Mutants of this tyrosine were scrutinized for effects on the coupled transport of Cl- and H+ determined electrophysiologically and on protein structure determined crystallographically. Despite the strong conservation of Y445 in the CLC family, substitution of F or W at this position preserves wild-type transport behavior. Substitution by A, E, or H, however, produces uncoupled proteins with robust Cl- transport but greatly impaired movement of H+. The obligatory 2 Cl-/1 H+ stoichiometry is thus lost in these mutants. The structures of all the mutants are essentially identical to wild-type, but apparent anion occupancy in the Cl- binding region correlates with functional H+ coupling. In particular, as determined by anomalous diffraction in crystals grown in Br-, an electrophysiologically competent Cl- analogue, the well-coupled transporters show strong Br- electron density at the "inner" and "central" Cl- binding sites. However, in the uncoupled mutants, Br- density is absent at the central site, while still present at the inner site. An additional mutant, Y445L, is intermediate in both functional and structural features. This mutant clearly exchanges H+ for Cl-, but at a reduced H+-to-Cl- ratio; likewise, both the central and inner sites are occupied by Br-, but the central site shows lower Br- density than in wild-type (or in Y445F,W). The correlation between proton coupling and central-site occupancy argues that halide binding to the central transport site somehow facilitates movement of H+, a synergism that is not readily understood in terms of alternating-site antiport schemes.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Bromides / metabolism*
  • Chloride Channels / chemistry
  • Chloride Channels / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ion Transport / physiology*
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protons*

Substances

  • Bromides
  • Chloride Channels
  • ClC protein, E coli
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Protons

Associated data

  • PDB/2HLF
  • PDB/2HT2
  • PDB/2HT3
  • PDB/2HT4
  • PDB/2HTK
  • PDB/2HTL