Structural and mechanistic insights into ABC-type ECF transporters for vitamin uptake
PhD ceremony: | Ms M. (Maria) Dosz-Majsnerowska |
When: | January 17, 2014 |
Start: | 11:00 |
Supervisor: | prof. dr. D.J. (Dirk) Slotboom |
Where: | Academy building RUG |
Faculty: | Science and Engineering |
The focus of the thesis is on the relationship between structure
and mechanism in the ABC-type ECF transporters for vitamin uptake
from Lactococcus lactis . Energy Coupling Factor (ECF) transporters
are involved in the uptake of vitamins and micronutrients in
prokaryotes. They employ integral membrane proteins (S-components)
for high affinity substrate binding. S-components form active
translocation complexes with the ECF module, which energizes
transport of the substrate from ATP hydrolysis. In many cases the
ECF module can interact with several different S-components which
are unrelated in sequence and bind diverse substrates. This feature
enables the transport of chemically different substrates via a
common route.
In the first two experimental chapters two S-components specific
for biotin (BioY) and thiamin (ThiT) were characterized.
In chapter 2 we presented a high-resolution crystal structure of
BioY from L. lactis and performed biochemical analysis of this
protein and its homolog from Rhodobacter capsulatus .
In chapter 3 we used EPR spectroscopy, stopped-flow fluorescence
spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to determine the
structural rearrangements that take place in ThiT from L. lactis
upon binding of thiamin.
In the two following experimental chapters the complete ECF
transporters were investigated.
In chapter 4 and chapter 5 the mechanism of vitamin transport by
ECF transporters from L. lactis was studied in vivo and in vitro
(after reconstitution in liposomes), respectively.
This work exemplifies how a combination of structural and
biochemical data may bring an important contribution into
understanding of biological systems.