PLANT-TRANSPORTERS: Plant membrane transporters: from structure to function

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0599

Key words (English)

Education; Training; Scientific Research; Social Aspects

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: HPRN-CT-2002-00269

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 4.1.1 Research training networks

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Universität Zürich
Institut für Pflanzenbiologie
Labor für molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie

Abstract (English)

Membrane proteins are essential for most basic cell functions and yet, compared to other protein classes, they are poorly understood. For instance, because of the tremendous difficulty to crystallise membrane proteins, less than 25 original structures have been solved, a number which lags far behind that of soluble proteins. Membrane proteins are difficult to express, purify and crystallise because they occur naturally in lipid bilayers which makes it necessary to study them either in detergent solution or reconstituted into a lipid environment. This network wishes to combine complementary approaches to better characterise the structure and function of two types of primary transporters of plant membranes: 1/ P-type pumps, which couple ATP hydrolysis to the transport of cations; among these, proton pump-ATPases (H^+-ATPases) create a pHand an electric potential difference across the plasma membrane which are used to activate many secondary transporters involved in ion and nutrient uptake; 2/ ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters which couple ATP hydrolysis and transport of secondary metabolites and various drugs.

Their characterisation will involve the following approaches:
1) heterologous expression in various systems including yeast;
2) solubilization and purification;
3) enzymatic characterisation;
4) 2Dcrystallisation and structure determination;L5) determination of physiological roles. Most of the partners involved in this proposal have collaborated before or are currently collaborating. This represents an important advantage for rapidly setting up the network and initiating trainee exchanges.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0599