Biological ammonium transporters from the Amt/Mep/Rh superfamily: mechanism, energetics, and technical limitations

Gordon Williamson; Adriana Bizior; Thomas Harris; Leighton Pritchard; Paul A. Hoskisson; Arnaud Javelle

doi:10.1042/BSR20211209

Biological ammonium transporters from the Amt/Mep/Rh superfamily: mechanism, energetics, and technical limitations

Gordon Williamson, Adriana Bizior, Thomas Harris, Leighton Pritchard, Paul A. Hoskisson, Arnaud Javelle^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Strathclyde Institute Of Pharmacy And Biomedical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

50 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The exchange of ammonium across cellular membranes is a fundamental process in all domains of life and is facilitated by the ubiquitous Amt/Mep/Rh transporter superfamily. Remarkably, despite a high structural conservation in all domains of life, these proteins have gained various biological functions during evolution. It is tempting to hypothesise that the physiological functions gained by these proteins may be explained at least in part by differences in the energetics of their translocation mechanisms. Therefore, in this review, we will explore our current knowledge of energetics of the Amt/Mep/Rh family, discuss variations in observations between different organisms, and highlight some technical drawbacks which have hampered effects at mechanistic characterisation. Through the review we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of current understanding of the mechanism of transport of this unique and extraordinary Amt/Mep/Rh superfamily of ammonium transporters.

Original language	English
Article number	BSR20211209
Number of pages	24
Journal	Bioscience Reports
Volume	44
Issue number	1
Early online date	22 Dec 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20211209
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2024

Funding

A.B., G.W. and T.H.: PhD studentships from the University of Strathclyde. A.J.: Chancellor’s Fellowship from the University of Strathclyde and Tenovus Scotland (S17-07). P.A.H. would like to acknowledge funding from BBSRC [grant numbers BB/T001038/1 and BB/T004126/1] and the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair Scheme for long-term personal research support [grant number RCSRF2021 \ 11 \ 15]. Special thanks to Prof. Iain Hunter (Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences), Dr Mélanie Boeckstaens (Free University of Brussels, Gosselies, Belgium) and Prof Anna-Maria Marini (Free University of Brussels, Gosselies, Belgium) for invaluable discussions and help during this project. A.B., G.W. and T.H.: PhD studentships from the University of Strathclyde. A.J.: Chancellor’s Fellowship from the University of Strathclyde and Tenovus Scotland (S17-07). P.A.H. would like to acknowledge funding from BBSRC [grant numbers BB/T001038/1 and BB/T004126/1] and the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair Scheme for long-term personal research support [grant number RCSRF2021 \ 11 \ 15].

Keywords

Amt/Mep/Rh
ammonium transporter
energetics
methylamonium permease
rhesus protein
electrophysiology

Access to Document

10.1042/BSR20211209Licence: CC BY 4.0

Williamson-etal-BR-2024-Biological-ammonium-transporters-fromFinal published version, 3.21 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

3 Finished

Chance and Necessity: Evolution guided antibiotic improvement and discovery
Hoskisson, P. (Principal Investigator)
BBSRC (Biotech & Biological Sciences Research Council)
1/10/19 → 30/09/22
Project: Research
Re-engineering robustness in to industrial antibiotic producing Streptomyces strains (Super Follow on Fund)
Hoskisson, P. (Principal Investigator) & Hunter, I. (Co-investigator)
BBSRC (Biotech & Biological Sciences Research Council)
1/10/19 → 31/08/22
Project: Research
Functional characterisation of membrane transporters involved in human physiopathology
Javelle, A. (Principal Investigator)
Tenovus Scotland
1/10/17 → 30/09/18
Project: Research

5 Citations
1 Review article

Biological ammonium transporters: evolution and diversification
Williamson, G., Harris, T., Bizior, A., Hoskisson, P. A., Pritchard, L. & Javelle, A., 1 Sept 2024, In: FEBS Journal. 291, 17, p. 3786-3810 25 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Open Access
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6 Citations (Scopus)

51 Downloads (Pure)

Cite this

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abstract = "The exchange of ammonium across cellular membranes is a fundamental process in all domains of life and is facilitated by the ubiquitous Amt/Mep/Rh transporter superfamily. Remarkably, despite a high structural conservation in all domains of life, these proteins have gained various biological functions during evolution. It is tempting to hypothesise that the physiological functions gained by these proteins may be explained at least in part by differences in the energetics of their translocation mechanisms. Therefore, in this review, we will explore our current knowledge of energetics of the Amt/Mep/Rh family, discuss variations in observations between different organisms, and highlight some technical drawbacks which have hampered effects at mechanistic characterisation. Through the review we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of current understanding of the mechanism of transport of this unique and extraordinary Amt/Mep/Rh superfamily of ammonium transporters.",

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AU - Bizior, Adriana

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AU - Hoskisson, Paul A.

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KW - Amt/Mep/Rh

KW - ammonium transporter

KW - energetics

KW - methylamonium permease

KW - rhesus protein

KW - electrophysiology

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DO - 10.1042/BSR20211209

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Biological ammonium transporters from the Amt/Mep/Rh superfamily: mechanism, energetics, and technical limitations

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

Chance and Necessity: Evolution guided antibiotic improvement and discovery

Re-engineering robustness in to industrial antibiotic producing Streptomyces strains (Super Follow on Fund)

Functional characterisation of membrane transporters involved in human physiopathology

Research output

Biological ammonium transporters: evolution and diversification

Cite this