Selective Nutrient Transport in Bacteria: Multicomponent Transporter Systems Reign Supreme

James S Davies; Michael J Currie; Joshua D Wright; Michael C Newton-Vesty; Rachel A North; Peter D Mace; Jane R Allison; Renwick C J Dobson

doi:10.3389/fmolb.2021.699222

Selective Nutrient Transport in Bacteria: Multicomponent Transporter Systems Reign Supreme

Front Mol Biosci. 2021 Jun 29:8:699222. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.699222. eCollection 2021.

Authors

James S Davies¹, Michael J Currie¹, Joshua D Wright¹, Michael C Newton-Vesty¹, Rachel A North², Peter D Mace³, Jane R Allison⁴, Renwick C J Dobson^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
² Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
³ Biochemistry Department, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
⁴ Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery and School of Biological Sciences, Digital Life Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁵ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.

Abstract

Multicomponent transporters are used by bacteria to transport a wide range of nutrients. These systems use a substrate-binding protein to bind the nutrient with high affinity and then deliver it to a membrane-bound transporter for uptake. Nutrient uptake pathways are linked to the colonisation potential and pathogenicity of bacteria in humans and may be candidates for antimicrobial targeting. Here we review current research into bacterial multicomponent transport systems, with an emphasis on the interaction at the membrane, as well as new perspectives on the role of lipids and higher oligomers in these complex systems.

Keywords: ABC transporter; TRAP transporter; membrane proteins; protein-protein interaction; transport mechanism.

Publication types

Review