The ATP switch model for ABC transporters
Christopher F Higgins1, Kenneth J Linton
1MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK. christopher.higgins@csc.mrc.ac.uk
Abstract:
ABC transporters mediate active translocation of a diverse range of molecules across all cell membranes. They comprise two nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) and two transmembrane domains (TMDs). Recent biochemical, structural and genetic studies have led to the ATP-switch model in which ATP binding and ATP hydrolysis, respectively, induce formation and dissociation of an NBD dimer. This provides an exquisitely regulated switch that induces conformational changes in the TMDs to mediate membrane transport.
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