Dynamic membrane topology of the Escherichia coli beta-glucoside transporter BglF

The Escherichia coli BglF protein, a permease of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system, catalyzes transport and phosphorylation of beta-glucosides. In addition, BglF regulates bgl operon expression by controlling the activity of the transcriptional regulator BglG via reversible phosphorylation. BglF is composed of three domains; one is hydrophobic, which presumably forms the sugar translocation channel. We studied the topology of this domain by Cys-replacement mutagenesis and chemical modification by thiol reagents. Most Cys substitutions were well tolerated, as demonstrated by the ability of the mutant proteins to catalyze BglF activities. Our results suggest that the membrane domain contains eight transmembrane helices and an alleged cytoplasmic loop that contains two additional helices. The latter region forms a dynamic structure, as evidenced by the alternation of residues near its ends between faced-in and faced-out states. We suggest that this region, together with the two transmembrane helices encompassing it, forms the sugar translocation channel. BglF periplasmic loops are close to the membrane, the first being a reentrant loop. This is the first systematic topological study carried out with an intact phosphotransferase system permease and the first demonstration of a reentrant loop in this group of proteins.