Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Li J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2784569 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Biophysical journal 20091201 11
The crystal structure of Na(+)-coupled galactose symporter (vSGLT) reports the transporter in its substrate-bound state, with a Na(+) ion modeled in a binding site corresponding to that of a homologous protein, leucine transporter (LeuT). In repeated molecular dynamics simulations, however, we find the Na(+) ion instable, invariably and spontaneously diffusing out of the transporter through a pathway lined by D189, which appears to facilitate the diffusion of the ion toward the cytoplasm. Furthe ...[more]