Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Biochemical and Structural Characterization of the Carbohydrate Transport Substrate-binding-protein SP0092
Published on: October 2, 2017
Functional characterization of a Na(+)-coupled dicarboxylate carrier protein from Staphylococcus aureus
1Department of Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0647, USA. jaahall@utmb.edu
Abstract:
We have cloned and functionally characterized a Na(+)-coupled dicarboxylate transporter, SdcS, from Staphylococcus aureus. This carrier protein is a member of the divalent anion/Na(+) symporter (DASS) family and shares significant sequence homology with the mammalian Na(+)/dicarboxylate cotransporters NaDC-1 and NaDC-3. Analysis of SdcS function indicates transport properties consistent with those of its eukaryotic counterparts. Thus, SdcS facilitates the transport of the dicarboxylates fumarate, malate, and succinate across the cytoplasmic membrane in a Na(+)-dependent manner. Furthermore, kinetic work predicts an ordered reaction sequence with Na(+) (K(0.5) of 2.7 mM) binding before dicarboxylate (K(m) of 4.5 microM). Because this transporter and its mammalian homologs are functionally similar, we suggest that SdcS may serve as a useful model for DASS family structural analysis.
Related Concept Videos
The ADP/ATP Carrier Protein
Drug Absorption Mechanism: Carrier-Mediated Membrane Transport
Facilitated diffusion is a passive process that utilizes human Solute Carrier (SLC) transporters. These transporters bind to the drug, undergo structural...
Carrier-Mediated Transport
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...
Facilitated Diffusion
In this process, substrates such as organic compounds and ions interact with a transporter on one side, triggering conformational changes in proteins that enable...
Clathrin Coated Vesicles
The Significance of Membrane Transport
Transporters facilitate either an active or passive movement of solutes. They can allow a single-molecule transport down its...

