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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Transmembrane Domain Oligomerization Propensity determined by ToxR Assay
Published on: May 26, 2011
Janus model of the Na,K-ATPase beta-subunit transmembrane domain: distinct faces mediate alpha/beta assembly and
Sonali P Barwe1, Sanguk Kim, Sigrid A Rajasekaran
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Abstract:
Na,K-ATPase is a hetero-oligomer of alpha and beta-subunits. The Na,K-ATPase beta-subunit (Na,K-beta) is involved in both the regulation of ion transport activity, and in cell-cell adhesion. By structure prediction and evolutionary analysis, we identified two distinct faces on the Na,K-beta transmembrane domain (TMD) that could mediate protein-protein interactions: a glycine zipper motif and a conserved heptad repeat. Here, we show that the heptad repeat face is involved in the hetero-oligomeric interaction of Na,K-beta with Na,K-alpha, and the glycine zipper face is involved in the homo-oligomerization of Na,K-beta. Point mutations in the heptad repeat motif reduced Na,K-beta binding to Na,K-alpha, and Na,K-ATPase activity. Na,K-beta TMD homo-oligomerized in biological membranes, and mutation of the glycine zipper motif affected oligomerization and cell-cell adhesion. These results provide a structural basis for understanding how Na,K-beta links ion transport and cell-cell adhesion.
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