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#ion transport

11 public questions tagged with this topic.

The CFTR transporter functions as a:

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator CFTR, ABCC7, is an exceptional ABC protein that functions not as active pump but as cAMP-activated chloride channel gated by ATP. It contains two transmembrane domains each with six helices forming chloride-selective pore, two nucleotide-binding domains, and a unique cytosolic R domain with multiple PKA phosphorylation sites. Channel opening requires R domain phosphorylation by protein kinase A downstream of adenylate cyclase, followed by ATP binding and NBD dimerization stabilizing open state; ATP hydrolysis at NBD2 terminates open burst. In

Ref: Gadsby et al., Nature 2006, CFTR gating cycle; Lodish, Molecular Cell Biology, CFTR chloride channel.

The ABC transporter superfamily is involved in:

ABC transporter superfamily represents large gene family with 48 members in humans associated with inherited disorders and drug resistance, present also in bacteria where many function as importers. Core architecture comprises two transmembrane domains typically six helices each forming substrate translocation chamber with diverse selectivity filters, and two nucleotide binding domains located cytoplasmically containing Walker A phosphate binding P-loop, Walker B magnesium coordination hhhhhD, signature C motif LSGGQ characteristic of ABC plus H-loop and Q-loop coordinating ATP. Transport cycl

Ref: Higgins, ABC Transporters Annual Review Cell Biol, Lipophilic Drug Export and MDR Phenotype.

The P-class Ca2+ ATPase helps regulate calcium homeostasis by:

Calcium serves as ubiquitous intracellular second messenger regulating muscle contraction, neurotransmitter release, gene expression and apoptosis, requiring precise spatial temporal control. Resting cytosolic free calcium around 100 nanomolar maintained far below extracellular 1 to 2 millimolar and endoplasmic reticulum lumen 400 to 700 micromolar, creating 10,000 fold chemical gradient plus electrical component because membrane potential negative. P-type Ca2+ ATPases accomplish low cytosolic level by active extrusion. Plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase PMCA ejects calcium outward, while SERCA pumps

Ref: Carafoli, Calcium Pump Review, P-Type Ca2+ ATPases Maintaining Cytosolic Calcium Homeostasis.

Digitalis affects cardiac function by inhibiting:

Therapeutic use of foxglove extracts containing digoxin and digitoxin dates to Withering eighteenth century for dropsy. Molecular target identified as sodium potassium ATPase, P-type pump maintaining high potassium low sodium intracellular, essential for cardiac electrophysiology. Digitalis glycosides bind extracellular vestibule formed by transmembrane segments of alpha subunit in E2P conformation, competing with potassium and locking enzyme in phosphorylated outward open state, inhibiting cycle. Inhibition fraction modest at therapeutic concentrations about 20 to 40 percent raises submembran

Ref: Withering and Hauptman, Digitalis and Na+/K+ ATPase Inhibition Cardiac Glycoside Mechanism.

The E2 conformation of Na+/K+ ATPase has:

According to Post-Albers catalytic cycle Na+/K+ ATPase interconverts between E1 inward facing and E2 outward facing with phosphorylated intermediates. In E1 primary sites display high affinity for sodium, three ions bind cytosolic side coordinated by carboxyl side chains and backbone carbonyls accommodating sodium ionic radius 0.95 angstrom. ATP phosphorylates Asp369 generating E1P occluded trapping ions, isomerization to E2P opens outward, sodium affinity drops thousand fold due to rearrangement of M4-M6 helices widening pocket incompatible with high affinity sodium coordination, ions release

Ref: Glynn, J Physiol, Post-Albers Cycle E2 High K+ Affinity Conformation of Na+/K+ ATPase.

V-class ATPases differ from P-class ATPases in that:

Distinguishing pump families centers on mechanism of coupling ATP hydrolysis to ion translocation. P-class pumps such as Na+/K+ ATPase, SERCA, PMCA and H+/K+ ATPase share formation of covalent phosphoenzyme intermediate on conserved aspartate within DKTGT motif, inhibited by vanadate mimicking phosphate. They typically transport monovalent or divalent cations like sodium, potassium, calcium, heavy metals with fixed stoichiometry. V-class proton pumps acidifying vacuoles, lysosomes, endosomes and Golgi represent rotary ATPases composed of cytosolic V1 domain peripheral stalk and membrane Vo pro

Ref: Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, Chapter 11: V-Type vs P-Type ATPases - Phosphorylation Difference.

The E1 conformation of Na+/K+ ATPase has:

Post-Albers scheme for P-type ATPases defines two principal conformers interconverting via phosphorylation. E1 state is outward closed, inward open, with N domain positioned to accept ATP and transmembrane domain exposing high affinity sodium sites to cytosol. Detailed structures from shark rectal gland enzyme show three sodium ions coordinated by oxygen atoms in pocket formed by M4, M5, M6 and M8 with micromolar affinity at cytosolic concentration about 10 millimolar, while potassium affinity submillimolar low because pocket incompatible with potassium dehydration geometry. Phosphorylation pr

Ref: Albers and Post Model, P-Type Pump Cycle, E1 High Na+ Affinity and E2 High K+ Affinity States.

The selectivity filter of an ion channel ensures:

Ion channels achieve selective conduction despite high throughput by incorporating a narrow selectivity filter that discriminates on basis of size, dehydration energy and electrostatic coordination. Pore domain S5, P-loop, S6 forms inverted teepee; P-loop folds as two short pore helices P1 and P2 scaffolding filter. In potassium channels carbonyl oxygens from TVGYG sequence replace hydration waters precisely matching potassium radius but requiring too large cavity for smaller sodium. In sodium channels DEKA motif and outer ring carboxylates create high field site preferring partially hydrated

Ref: Hille, Ion Channels of Excitable Membranes, Chapter 13: Selectivity Filter and Molecular Sieving.

Which type of enzyme catalyzes the movement of ions across membranes?

Translocase is the accurate response regarding enzymatic activity or regulation described in this question. Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate reactions by lowering activation energy through specific substrate binding and transition state stabilization. In the context of Enzymes Basics, Translocase plays a specific catalytic or regulatory role determined by its active site configuration and mechanism of action. The other options (Oxidoreductase, Transferase, and Ligase) are either different enzymes with distinct substrate specificities, act through different mechanisms, or are in

Ref: Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, Nelson & Cox, 8th Ed., Ch. 6