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Title: Visualizing conformation transitions of the Lipid II flippase MurJ

Journal Article · · Nature Communications

The biosynthesis of many polysaccharides, including bacterial peptidoglycan and eukaryotic N-linked glycans, requires transport of lipid-linked oligosaccharide (LLO) precursors across the membrane by specialized flippases. MurJ is the flippase for the lipid-linked peptidoglycan precursor Lipid II, a key player in bacterial cell wall synthesis, and a target of recently discovered antibacterials. However, the flipping mechanism of LLOs including Lipid II remains poorly understood due to a dearth of structural information. Here we report crystal structures of MurJ captured in inward-closed, inward-open, inward-occluded and outward-facing conformations. Together with mutagenesis studies, we elucidate the conformational transitions in MurJ that mediate lipid flipping, identify the key ion for function, and provide a framework for the development of inhibitors.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Inst. of Health
Grant/Contract Number:
R01GM120594; GM124165; RR029205; OD021527
OSTI ID:
1513008
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Vol. 10, Issue 1; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 36 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (7)

A Mass‐Spectrometry‐Based Approach to Distinguish Annular and Specific Lipid Binding to Membrane Proteins journal January 2020
A Mass‐Spectrometry‐Based Approach to Distinguish Annular and Specific Lipid Binding to Membrane Proteins journal January 2020
Structural basis for the coordination of cell division with the synthesis of the bacterial cell envelope journal September 2019
Bioinformatics analysis of diversity in bacterial glycan chain-termination chemistry and organization of carbohydrate-binding modules linked to ABC transporters journal May 2019
GtcA is required for LTA glycosylation in Listeria monocytogenes serovar 1/2a and Bacillus subtilis text January 2020
GtcA is required for LTA glycosylation in Listeria monocytogenes serovar 1/2a and Bacillus subtilis journal December 2020
Sequence and structural determinants of ligand-dependent alternating access of a MATE transporter journal February 2020

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