Characterization of transport proteins for aromatic compounds derived from lignin: benzoate derivative binding proteins.

ABSTRACT: In vitro growth experiments have demonstrated that aromatic compounds derived from lignin can be metabolized and represent a major carbon resource for many soil bacteria. However, the proteins that mediate the movement of these metabolites across the cell membrane have not been thoroughly characterized. To address this deficiency, we used a library representative of lignin degradation products and a thermal stability screen to determine ligand specificity for a set of solute-binding proteins (SBPs) from ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. The ligand mapping process identified a set of proteins from Alphaproteobacteria that recognize various benzoate derivatives. Seven high-resolution crystal structures of these proteins in complex with four different aromatic compounds were obtained.

SUBMITTER: Michalska K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3836681 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature