Nucleotide transporter in mitochondria and chloroplasts:  An obstacle course towards structure-function studies

Eva Pebay-Peyroula, Institut de Biologie Structurale, Université Grenoble Alpes
Norstruct and Department of Marine and Arctic Biology, University Tromsø

• Friday 8. October, 14:30 at N-terminalen (please note the time, one hour later than the usual seminar time due to today’s PhD-defense)

ATP fuels most of the enzymatic reactions and other actions undertaken within cells and organisms. In mammalian cells, its synthesis is achieved in mitochondria, and in plant cells in chloroplasts but also in mitochondria. In order to transport ATP, the main energy currency of the cell, towards the cytoplasm, efficient and specific transporters are needed. The first structure of the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier solved in 2003 paved the way to understand part of the transport mechanism. In particular, it enabled to understand the malfunction of single point mutations that are responsible for diseases. This transporter belongs to the MCF family (Mitochondrial Carrier Family) and the structure also highlights features that are general to all MCF members. In parallel, we study a chloroplast nucleotide transporter with a similar function, but probably a completely different structure. In addition to the results, the seminar will detail the strategies undertaken to handle these membrane proteins from expression to crystallization and structure.

Eva Pebay-Peroula

Host: Reuter