Structural basis of a microbial trimethylamine transporter.

ABSTRACT: Trimethylamine (TMA), a simple trace biogenic amine resulting from the decomposition of proteins and other macromolecules, is ubiquitous in nature. It is found in the human gut as well as in various terrestrial and marine ecosystems. While the role of TMA in promoting cardiovascular diseases and depolarizing olfactory sensory neurons in humans has only recently been explored, many microbes are well known for their ability to utilize TMA as a carbon, nitrogen, and energy source. Here, we report the first structure of a TMA transporter, TmaT, originally identified from a marine bacterium. TmaT is a member of the betaine-choline-carnitine transporter family, and we show that TmaT is an Na⁺/TMA symporter, which possessed high specificity and binding affinity toward TMA. Furthermore,

SUBMITTER: Gao C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11708041 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature