Structural and functional characterization of the nitrite channel NirC from Salmonella typhimurium.

ABSTRACT: Nitrite (NO(2)(-)) is a central intermediate in the nitrogen metabolism of microorganisms and plants, and is used as a cytotoxin by macrophages as part of the innate immune response. The bacterial membrane protein NirC acts as a specific channel to facilitate the transport of nitrite anions across lipid bilayers for cytoplasmic detoxification. Despite NirC's importance in nitrogen metabolism and in the pathogenicity of enteric bacteria, available biochemical data are scarce. Here we present a functional and structural characterization of NirC from Salmonella typhimurium by lipid bilayer electrophysiology and X-ray crystallography. NirC is a pentameric member of the formate/nitrite transporter family of membrane proteins that operates as a channel with high conductance. Single-channel measu

SUBMITTER: Lu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3494889 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature