Structural basis for pH-responsive amino acid transport via SLC7A4 - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #amino acid transporter
- #pH-responsive transport
- #SLC7A4
- SLC7A4 is a human plasma membrane amino acid transporter regulated by low extracellular pH and functions as a leucine transporter.
- Cryo-EM structures of the plant homologue CAT4 reveal outward-open apo and L-ornithine-bound states, informing on amino acid selectivity.
- Residues identified through homology models and simulations support an allosteric mechanism linking ligand recognition to pH regulation.
- The mechanism shows an evolutionary link to proton-coupled prokaryotic homologues within the APC superfamily.
- Findings provide a structural and functional basis for pH-gated leucine transport by SLC7A4, aiding understanding of amino acid selectivity in the SLC7 family.