RESEARCH: MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
FOLDING PROJECT #19216 PROFILE

This project looks at how tiny proteins in bacteria move nitrate and nitrite across their cell membranes. Even though two similar proteins, NarU and NarK, do the same job, they work differently. By comparing these proteins, scientists hope to better understand how all membrane transport proteins work.

Note: This TLDR is a simplication and may not be 100% accurate.

A United Picture of Transporter Functions
Membrane transporters are an integral part of the cell and serve many roles across their involvement in the transport of ions, nutrients, neurotransmitters, and many drugs across cellular membranes.

There are three major classes of membrane transport proteins that facilitate the transport of various solutes.

These classes are Uniporters, which transport one solute across the membrane in one direction, Symporters, which transport two solutes across the membrane in the same direction, and Antiporters, which transfer two solutes in opposite directions across the membrane.

These classes follow different mechanisms of transport to move their solute(s) across the membrane.
Simulations for this project will be primarily focused on studying how structural differences, sequence level differences, and energetic level differences account for the difference in transport mechanisms across the two bacterial nitrate/nitrite membrane transporters NarU and NarK.

These transporters have high sequence similarity and similar solutes, yet differ in mechanism of transport.

By evaluating the differences in mechanism of transport arising in similar transporters of different classes, we hope to further improve our understanding of the controlling mechanisms behind membrane transport.

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Transporter

A protein that moves molecules across cell membranes.

Transporters are proteins embedded in cell membranes that act like gates, controlling the movement of substances in and out of cells. They are crucial for various processes, including nutrient uptake, waste removal, and signaling.

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Membrane

A thin barrier that surrounds cells and separates their contents from the environment.

Membranes are flexible layers found in all living cells. They act as barriers, controlling what enters and exits the cell. Membranes are composed of lipids and proteins, with different types embedded within them to perform specific functions.

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Uniporter

A type of membrane transporter that moves one molecule across the membrane in one direction.

Uniporters are a class of membrane proteins that facilitate the transport of a single molecule across the cell membrane. They work by binding to the molecule on one side of the membrane and releasing it on the other side.

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Symporter

A type of membrane transporter that moves two molecules across the membrane in the same direction.

Symporters are membrane proteins that co-transport two different molecules across the cell membrane. They bind to both molecules simultaneously and move them together in the same direction.

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Antiporter

A type of membrane transporter that moves two molecules across the membrane in opposite directions.

Antiporters are membrane proteins that facilitate the exchange of two different molecules across the cell membrane. They bind to one molecule on one side of the membrane and release it on the other side, simultaneously binding to a second molecule on the other side and releasing it on the first side.

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NarU

Nitrate/nitrite membrane transporter.

NarU is a bacterial protein responsible for transporting nitrate and nitrite across cell membranes. It belongs to the family of membrane transporters involved in nutrient uptake and energy production.

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NarK

Nitrate/nitrite membrane transporter.

NarK is another bacterial protein involved in transporting nitrate and nitrite across cell membranes. It shares similarities with NarU but exhibits differences in its transport mechanism.