A Novel Aquaporin Subfamily Imports Oxygen and Contributes to Pneumococcal Virulence by Controlling the Production and Release of Virulence Factors.

ABSTRACT: Aquaporins, integral membrane proteins widely distributed in organisms, facilitate the transport of water, glycerol, and other small uncharged solutes across cellular membranes and play important physiological roles in eukaryotes. However, characterizations and physiological functions of the prokaryotic aquaporins remain largely unknown. Here, we report that Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) AqpC (Pn-AqpC), representing a new aquaporin subfamily possessing a distinct substrate-selective channel, functions as an oxygen porin by facilitating oxygen movement across the cell membrane and contributes significantly to pneumococcal virulence. The use of a phosphorescent oxygen probe showed that Pn-AqpC facilitates oxygen permeation into pneumococcal and Pn-AqpC-expressing yeast cells. Recon

SUBMITTER: Hu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8406300 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature