Sandbox Reserved 1069: Difference between revisions

YiiP's ability to export Zn²⁺ from the cytoplasm is best described as an alternating access mechanism with Zn²⁺/H⁺ antiport. YiiP has 2 major structural conformations as shown by the crystallized structures [http://proteopedia.org/wiki/index.php/3h90 3H90] and [http://proteopedia.org/wiki/index.php/3j1z 3J1Z] (a YiiP homolog derived from ''Shewanella oneidensis''). 3H90 shows YiiP in its outward-facing conformation and 3J1Z shows the YiiP homolog in an inward-facing conformation.

Conformation changes occur in the TMD and CTD, both of which are heavily influenced by the presence of Zn²⁺. The conformation change directly involved with Zn²⁺/H⁺ antiport occurs in the TMD as helix pivoting controls what environment site A is available to. Conformation change occurs when the transmembrane helix pairs TM1, TM2, TM4, and TM5 pivot around cation binding site. It is believed that the energy for TMD conformation change comes from energy of binding each substrate. Changing to the outward from the inward-facing conformation causes a shift in <scene name='69/694233/Transmembrane_helix_5/2'>TM5</scene> which disrupts the tetrahedral geometry of active site A. This in turn decreases binding affinity site A has for Zn²⁺ making export to the periplasm possible. After Zn²⁺ is exported and site A is either empty or bound to hydrogen change back to the inward-facing conformation is favored.

In contrast the main purpose of conformation change in the CTD is to stabilize the YiiP dimer and acts as a Zn²⁺ sensor. This is possible because of the flexible loop that links the TMD and the CTD. This loop harbors the charge interlock which serves as a hinge that allows movement of the CTD. Using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%B6rster_resonance_energy_transfer FRET] to measure the distance between the CTD of each monomer fluorescence quenching was observed as the concentration Zn²⁺ increased, which supports that idea that Zn²⁺ induces a stabilizing conformation change in the CTD.