Understanding Mechanisms of Secondary Active Transport by Analyzing the Effects of Mutations and Stoichiometry

Biological cells frequently exhibit a so-called secondary active transport by moving various species across their membranes. In this mode of transport, an energetically favorable transmembrane gradient of one type of molecule is used to drive another type of molecule in the energetically unfavorable direction against their gradient. Although it is well established that conformational transitions play a critical role in functioning of transporters, the molecular details of underlying mechanisms remain not well understood. Here, we utilize a recently developed theoretical method to understand better the microscopic picture of secondary active transport. Specifically, we evaluate how mutations in different parts of transporters affect their dynamic properties. In addition, we present a possible explanation on existence of different stoichiometries in the secondary active transport. Our theoretical analysis clarifies several important aspects of complex biological transport phenomena.