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The twisted relation between Pnu and SWEET transporters
Michael Jaehme1, Albert Guskov1, Dirk Jan Slotboom1
1University of Groningen, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Trends in Biochemical Sciences
|March 12, 2015
Summary
Researchers propose a 3D domain swapping event explains the evolutionary divergence between sugar transporters (SWEET) and vitamin transporters (Pnu), despite structural similarities and sequence differences.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The evolutionary relationship between SWEET (sugar) and Pnu (vitamin) transporters remains unclear.
- These transporter families share similar 3D structures but exhibit distinct secondary structure topologies and lack significant sequence homology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary pathway connecting the SWEET and Pnu transporter families.
- To elucidate the structural and sequence basis for their divergence from a common ancestor.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of 3D structures of SWEET and Pnu transporter family members.
- Sequence analysis of conserved motifs and structural elements.
Main Results:
- A 3D domain swapping event is proposed as the mechanism explaining topological differences.
- This event accounts for the absence of the conserved SWEET PQ loop motif in Pnu transporters.
Conclusions:
- The study proposes a plausible evolutionary model for the divergence of SWEET and Pnu transporters.
- 3D domain swapping provides a unifying explanation for structural and sequence variations between these essential transporter families.
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