Download MendeleyTransport of drugs by the multidrug transporter AcrB involves an access and a deep binding pocket that are separated by a switch-loop.
Eicher, T., Cha, H.J., Seeger, M.A., Brandstatter, L., El-Delik, J., Bohnert, J.A., Kern, W.V., Verrey, F., Grutter, M.G., Diederichs, K., Pos, K.M.(2012) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109: 5687-5692
- PubMed: 22451937
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1114944109
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
4DX5, 4DX6, 4DX7 - PubMed Abstract:
AcrAB-TolC is the major efflux protein complex in Escherichia coli extruding a vast variety of antimicrobial agents from the cell. The inner membrane component AcrB is a homotrimer, and it has been postulated that the monomers cycle consecutively through three conformational stages designated loose (L), tight (T), and open (O) in a concerted fashion. Binding of drugs has been shown at a periplasmic deep binding pocket in the T conformation. The initial drug-binding step and transport toward this drug-binding site has been elusive thus far. Here we report high resolution structures (1.9-2.25 Å) of AcrB/designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) complexes with bound minocycline or doxorubicin. In the AcrB/doxorubicin cocrystal structure, binding of three doxorubicin molecules is apparent, with one doxorubicin molecule bound in the deep binding pocket of the T monomer and two doxorubicin molecules in a stacked sandwich arrangement in an access pocket at the lateral periplasmic cleft of the L monomer. This access pocket is separated from the deep binding pocket apparent in the T monomer by a switch-loop. The localization and conformational flexibility of this loop seems to be important for large substrates, because a G616N AcrB variant deficient in macrolide transport exhibits an altered conformation within this loop region. Transport seems to be a stepwise process of initial drug uptake in the access pocket of the L monomer and subsequent accommodation of the drug in the deep binding pocket during the L to T transition to the internal deep binding pocket of the T monomer.
Organizational Affiliation:
Institute of Biochemistry and Cluster of Excellence Frankfurt-Macromolecular Complexes, Goethe-University Frankfurt, D-60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
