SGER: Crystallization of a P1-Type Heavy Metal Transport ATPase

9985771离子通过ATP产生的代谢能量在生物体的细胞膜上运输。转运蛋白是嵌入在膜上的酶，被归类为p型atp酶。由于缺乏对这些酶的原子结构的了解，人们对这些酶所执行的过程还没有完全了解。在过去的几年里，在原核生物中发现了一组新的p型atp酶（p1型），它们可以将Cu+1、Cu+2、Zn+2、Cd+2等重金属转运到细胞中。这些酶与其他p型atp酶具有相同的机制特征，但它们的体积更小。这种特性使它们更容易分离、纯化、结晶和获得它们的原子结构。通过对这类p型atp酶的晶体学分析获得详细的结构信息，将为其他p型atp酶的离子选择性和能量转导机制提供信息，并对能量耦合离子输运有更清晰的认识。这一点尤其重要，因为这方面的知识也可以为有效用于生物修复的微生物工程提供基础。

9985771ArguelloIons are transported across membranes of living organisms using metabolic energy derived from ATP. The transport proteins are enzymes that are imbedded in the membrane and classified as P-type ATPases. There is not a complete understanding of the processes performed by these enzymes due in part to a lack of knowledge of their atomic structures. During the last few years, a new group of P-type ATPases (P1-type) has been identified in prokaryotes that transport heavy metals such as Cu+1, Cu+2, Zn+2, Cd+2, and others into cells. These enzymes have the same mechanistic characteristics as other P-type ATPases, but they are smaller in size. This characteristic makes them easier to isolate, purify, crystallize and obtain their atomic structure. The detailed structural information obtained through crystallographic analysis of this sub-class of P-type ATPases will provide information on the ion selectivity and energy transduction mechanisms of other P-type ATPases and a clearer understanding of energy coupled ion transport. This is especially important since this knowledge may also provide a basis for the engineering of microorganisms that can be used effectively in bioremediation.