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Ion-driven rotary membrane motors: From structure to function
Freddie J O Martin1, Mònica Santiveri1, Haidai Hu1
1Structural Biology of Molecular Machines Group, Protein Structure & Function Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|July 25, 2024
Summary
Ion-driven membrane motors convert ion gradients into rotational energy for vital biological functions. Recent structural studies advance understanding of rotary ATPases and 5:2 motors, revealing insights into their mechanisms and clinical relevance.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Motors
Background:
- Ion-driven membrane motors are crucial molecular machines converting ion gradients into mechanical work.
- These motors power essential biological processes such as ATP synthesis, transport, and motility.
- Understanding their structure and mechanism is key to deciphering cellular function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent structural advances in understanding rotary ATPases and 5:2 motors.
- To highlight structural insights into clinically relevant mutations of F-type ATP synthases.
- To explore the diverse roles and mechanistic details of sodium-driven 5:2 motors.
Main Methods:
- Structural biology techniques, including X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy.
- Analysis of high-resolution structures of key ion-driven membrane motors.
- Integration of structural data with functional and biochemical information.
Main Results:
- Recent structures of human F-type ATP synthase provide insights into function and disease-related mutations.
- Structural resolution of ions in a sodium-driven motor elucidates selectivity and torque generation.
- Advances reveal potential unifying mechanisms for ion selectivity and rotation across different motor types.
Conclusions:
- Structural insights are rapidly advancing our understanding of ion-driven membrane motors.
- These motors exhibit conserved principles in ion selectivity and torque generation.
- Further structural studies will illuminate their roles in complex biological systems and disease.
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