The Structure of YnaI Implies Structural and Mechanistic Conservation in the MscS Family of Mechanosensitive Channels

Bettina Böttcher, Vojtech Prazak, Akiko Rasmussen, Susan S. Black, Tim Rasmussen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Mechanosensitive channels protect bacteria against lysis caused by a sudden drop in osmolarity in their surroundings. Besides the channel of large conductance (MscL) and small conductance (MscS), Escherichia coli has five additional paralogs of MscS that are functional and widespread in the bacterial kingdom. Here, we present the structure of YnaI by cryo-electron microscopy to a resolution of 13 Å. While the cytosolic vestibule is structurally similar to that in MscS, additional density is seen in the transmembrane (TM) region consistent with the presence of two additional TM helices predicted for YnaI. The location of this density suggests that the extra TM helices are tilted, which could induce local membrane curvature extending the tension-sensing paddles seen in MscS. Off-center lipid-accessible cavities are seen that resemble gaps between the sensor paddles in MscS. The conservation of the tapered shape and the cavities in YnaI suggest a mechanism similar to that of MscS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1705-1714
Number of pages10
JournalStructure
Volume23
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2015

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • bacteria
  • cryo-electron microscopy
  • fluorescence
  • osmotic stress
  • protein-lipid interaction

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