RESUMO
The adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (Ampk) is a central regulator of metabolic pathways, and increasing Ampk activity has been considered to be an attractive therapeutic target. Here, we have identified an orphan ubiquitin E3 ligase subunit protein, Fbxo48, that targets the active, phosphorylated Ampkα (pAmpkα) for polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. We have generated a novel Fbxo48 inhibitory compound, BC1618, whose potency in stimulating Ampk-dependent signaling greatly exceeds 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-ß-ribofuranoside (AICAR) or metformin. This compound increases the biological activity of Ampk not by stimulating the activation of Ampk, but rather by preventing activated pAmpkα from Fbxo48-mediated degradation. We demonstrate that, consistent with augmenting Ampk activity, BC1618 promotes mitochondrial fission, facilitates autophagy and improves hepatic insulin sensitivity in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice. Hence, we provide a unique bioactive compound that inhibits pAmpkα disposal. Together, these results define a new pathway regulating Ampk biological activity and demonstrate the potential utility of modulating this pathway for therapeutic benefit.
Assuntos
Proteínas Quinases Ativadas por AMP/genética , Hipoglicemiantes/farmacologia , Obesidade/tratamento farmacológico , Complexo de Endopeptidases do Proteassoma/efeitos dos fármacos , Processamento de Proteína Pós-Traducional/efeitos dos fármacos , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/genética , Proteínas Quinases Ativadas por AMP/metabolismo , Aminoimidazol Carboxamida/análogos & derivados , Aminoimidazol Carboxamida/farmacologia , Animais , Linhagem Celular Transformada , Dieta Hiperlipídica , Células Epiteliais/citologia , Células Epiteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Epiteliais/metabolismo , Proteínas F-Box , Humanos , Hipoglicemiantes/síntese química , Resistência à Insulina , Metformina/farmacologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Obesos , Dinâmica Mitocondrial/efeitos dos fármacos , Obesidade/etiologia , Obesidade/genética , Obesidade/metabolismo , Fosforilação , Poliubiquitina/genética , Poliubiquitina/metabolismo , Complexo de Endopeptidases do Proteassoma/metabolismo , Estabilidade Proteica/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteólise/efeitos dos fármacos , Ribonucleotídeos/farmacologia , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/antagonistas & inibidores , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/metabolismo , UbiquitinaçãoRESUMO
Aberrant anion secretion across the bronchial epithelium is associated with airway disease, most notably in cystic fibrosis. Although the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is recognized as the primary source of airway anion secretion, alternative anion transport mechanisms play a contributing role. An alternative anion transporter of growing interest is SLC26A9, a constitutively active chloride channel that has been shown to interact with CFTR and may also contribute to bicarbonate secretion. Interest in SLC26A9 has been fueled by genome-wide association studies that suggest it is a significant modifier of CF disease severity. Despite this growing evidence that SLC26A9 plays an important role in the airway, its presence and function in bronchial epithelia remain poorly understood, in part, because its activity is difficult to separate from the activity of CFTR. Here, we present results using primary human bronchial epithelia (HBE) from multiple patient sources to confirm that SLC26A9 mRNA is present in HBE and that its constitutive channel activity is unaffected by knockdown of CFTR. Furthermore, SLC26A9 and CFTR show differential responses to common inhibitors of anion secretion. Finally, we assess the impact of bicarbonate on the activity of SLC26A9 and CFTR. These results confirm that SLC26A9 is the primary source of constitutive anion secretion across HBE, and should inform future studies focused on activation of SLC26A9 as an alternative anion channel in CF. These results should provide a strong foundation to investigate how single-nucleotide polymorphisms in SLC26A9 modulate airway disease.
Assuntos
Antiporters/metabolismo , Bicarbonatos/metabolismo , Brônquios/metabolismo , Cloretos/metabolismo , Regulador de Condutância Transmembrana em Fibrose Cística/metabolismo , Fibrose Cística/metabolismo , Células Epiteliais/metabolismo , Transportadores de Sulfato/metabolismo , Antiporters/genética , Antiporters/farmacologia , Transporte Biológico , Brônquios/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Fibrose Cística/tratamento farmacológico , Fibrose Cística/patologia , Regulador de Condutância Transmembrana em Fibrose Cística/genética , Células Epiteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Transportadores de Sulfato/genéticaRESUMO
A growing number of diseases are linked to the misfolding of integral membrane proteins, and many of these proteins are targeted for ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation. One such substrate is a mutant form of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (F508del-CFTR). Protein folding "correctors" that repair the F508del-CFTR folding defect have entered the clinic, but they are unlikely to protect the entire protein from degradation. To increase the pool of F508del-CFTR protein that is available for correction by existing treatments, we determined a structure-activity relationship to improve the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of an inhibitor of the E1 ubiquitin activating enzyme that facilitates F508del-CFTR maturation. A resulting lead compound lacked measurable toxicity and improved the ability of an FDA-approved corrector to augment F508del-CFTR folding, transport the protein to the plasma membrane, and maintain its activity. These data support a proof-of-concept that modest inhibition of substrate ubiquitination improves the activity of small molecule correctors to treat CF and potentially other protein conformational disorders.
Assuntos
Benzoatos/farmacologia , Regulador de Condutância Transmembrana em Fibrose Cística/antagonistas & inibidores , Furanos/farmacologia , Pirazóis/farmacologia , Ubiquitina/antagonistas & inibidores , Benzoatos/química , Regulador de Condutância Transmembrana em Fibrose Cística/metabolismo , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Furanos/química , Humanos , Estrutura Molecular , Dobramento de Proteína/efeitos dos fármacos , Pirazóis/química , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Ubiquitina/metabolismo , Ubiquitinação/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Nutrient sensing is a critical cellular process controlling metabolism and signaling. mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) is the primary signaling hub for nutrient sensing and, when activated, stimulates anabolic processes while decreasing autophagic flux. mTORC1 receives nutrient status signals from intracellular amino acid sensors. One of these sensors, Sestrin-2, functions as an intracellular sensor of cytosolic leucine and inhibitor of mTORC1 activity. Genetic studies of Sestrin-2 have confirmed its critical role in regulating mTORC1 activity, especially in the case of leucine starvation. Sestrin-2 is known to be transcriptionally controlled by several mechanisms; however, the post-translational proteolytic regulation of Sestrin-2 remains unclear. Here, we explored how Sestrin-2 is regulated through the ubiquitin proteasome system. Using an unbiased screening approach of an siRNA library targeting ubiquitin E3 ligases, we identified a RING-type E3 ligase, ring finger protein 186 (RNF186), that critically mediates the Sestrin-2 ubiquitination and degradation. We observed that RNF186 and Sestrin-2 bind each other through distinct C-terminal motifs and that Lys-13 in Sestrin-2 is a putative ubiquitin acceptor site. RNF186 knockdown increased Sestrin-2 protein levels and decreased mTORC1 activation. These results reveal a new mechanism of E3 ligase control of mTORC1 activity through the RNF186-Sestrin-2 axis, suggesting that RNF186 inhibition may be a potential strategy to increase levels of the mTORC1 inhibitor Sestrin-2.
Assuntos
Proteínas Nucleares/metabolismo , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/metabolismo , Motivos de Aminoácidos , Linhagem Celular , Meios de Cultura/química , Meios de Cultura/metabolismo , Cicloeximida/farmacologia , Humanos , Leupeptinas/farmacologia , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina/antagonistas & inibidores , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina/metabolismo , Proteínas Nucleares/química , Ligação Proteica , Estabilidade Proteica/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteólise , Interferência de RNA , RNA Interferente Pequeno/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/antagonistas & inibidores , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/genética , UbiquitinaçãoRESUMO
Live-cell imaging methods can provide critical real-time receptor trafficking measurements. Here, we describe an optical tool to study synaptic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor (GABAAR) dynamics through adaptable fluorescent-tracking capabilities. A fluorogen-activating peptide (FAP) was genetically inserted into a GABAAR γ2 subunit tagged with pH-sensitive green fluorescent protein (γ2pHFAP). The FAP selectively binds and activates Malachite Green (MG) dyes that are otherwise non-fluorescent in solution. γ2pHFAP GABAARs are expressed at the cell surface in transfected cortical neurons, form synaptic clusters and do not perturb neuronal development. Electrophysiological studies show γ2pHFAP GABAARs respond to GABA and exhibit positive modulation upon stimulation with the benzodiazepine diazepam. Imaging studies using γ2pHFAP-transfected neurons and MG dyes show time-dependent receptor accumulation into intracellular vesicles, revealing constitutive endosomal and lysosomal trafficking. Simultaneous analysis of synaptic, surface and lysosomal receptors using the γ2pHFAP-MG dye approach reveals enhanced GABAAR turnover following a bicucculine-induced seizure paradigm, a finding not detected by standard surface receptor measurements. To our knowledge, this is the first application of the FAP-MG dye system in neurons, demonstrating the versatility to study nearly all phases of GABAAR trafficking.
Assuntos
Receptores de GABA-A/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismo , Animais , Endossomos/metabolismo , Transferência Ressonante de Energia de Fluorescência , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Lisossomos/metabolismo , Microscopia de Fluorescência , Neurônios/metabolismo , Transporte Proteico , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Análise de Célula ÚnicaRESUMO
Current treatments targeting individual protein quality control have limited efficacy in alleviating proteinopathies, highlighting the prerequisite for a common upstream druggable target capable of global proteostasis modulation. Building on our prior research establishing nuclear speckles as pivotal organelles responsible for global proteostasis transcriptional control, we aim to alleviate proteinopathies through nuclear speckle rejuvenation. We identified pyrvinium pamoate as a small-molecule nuclear speckle rejuvenator that enhances protein quality control while suppressing YAP1 signaling via decreasing the surface tension of nuclear speckle condensates through interaction with the intrinsically disordered region of nuclear speckle scaffold protein SON. In pre-clinical models, pyrvinium pamoate reduced tauopathy and alleviated retina degeneration by promoting autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome system. Aberrant nuclear speckle morphology, reduced protein quality control and increased YAP1 activity were also observed in human tauopathies. Our study uncovers novel therapeutic targets for tackling protein misfolding disorders within an expanded proteostasis framework encompassing nuclear speckles and YAP1.
RESUMO
Mitochondria evolved from endosymbiotic bacteria to become essential organelles of eukaryotic cells. The unique lipid composition and structure of mitochondrial membranes are critical for the proper functioning of mitochondria. However, stress responses that help maintain the mitochondrial membrane integrity are not well understood. One reason for this lack of insight is the absence of efficient tools to specifically damage mitochondrial membranes. Here, through a compound screen, we found that two bis-biguanide compounds, chlorhexidine and alexidine, modified the activity of the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM)-resident protease OMA1 by altering the integrity of the IMM. These compounds are well-known bactericides whose mechanism of action has centered on their damage-inducing activity on bacterial membranes. We found alexidine binds to the IMM likely through the electrostatic interaction driven by the membrane potential as well as an affinity for anionic phospholipids. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that alexidine severely perturbated the cristae structure. Notably, alexidine evoked a specific transcriptional/proteostasis signature that was not induced by other typical mitochondrial stressors, highlighting the unique property of alexidine as a novel mitochondrial membrane stressor. Our findings provide a chemical-biological tool that should enable the delineation of mitochondrial stress-signaling pathways required to maintain the mitochondrial membrane homeostasis.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Membranas Mitocondriais/efeitos dos fármacos , Membranas Mitocondriais/metabolismo , Biguanidas/farmacologia , Clorexidina/farmacologia , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos/métodos , Células HeLa , Homeostase , Humanos , Membranas/metabolismo , Metaloendopeptidases/efeitos dos fármacos , Metaloendopeptidases/genética , Metaloendopeptidases/metabolismo , Mitocôndrias/efeitos dos fármacos , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Proteínas Mitocondriais/metabolismo , Fosfolipídeos/metabolismoRESUMO
Cystic fibrosis (CF) occurs as a result of mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which lead to misfolding, trafficking defects, and impaired function of the CFTR protein. Splicing factor proline/glutamine-rich (SFPQ) is a multifunctional nuclear RNA-binding protein (RBP) implicated in the regulation of gene expression pathways and intracellular trafficking. Here, we investigated the role of SFPQ in the regulation of the expression and function of F508del-CFTR in CF lung epithelial cells. We find that the expression of SFPQ is reduced in F508del-CFTR CF epithelial cells compared to WT-CFTR control cells. Interestingly, the overexpression of SFPQ in CF cells increases the expression as well as rescues the function of F508del-CFTR. Further, comprehensive transcriptome analyses indicate that SFPQ plays a key role in activating the mutant F508del-CFTR by modulating several cellular signaling pathways. This is the first report on the role of SFPQ in the regulation of expression and function of F508del-CFTR in CF lung disease. Our findings provide new insights into SFPQ-mediated molecular mechanisms and point to possible novel epigenetic therapeutic targets for CF and related pulmonary diseases.
Assuntos
Brônquios/metabolismo , Regulador de Condutância Transmembrana em Fibrose Cística/metabolismo , Fibrose Cística/metabolismo , Fator de Processamento Associado a PTB/fisiologia , Brônquios/patologia , Células Cultivadas , Fibrose Cística/patologia , Regulador de Condutância Transmembrana em Fibrose Cística/genética , Células Epiteliais/metabolismo , Células Epiteliais/patologia , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/fisiologia , Humanos , Mutação , TranscriptomaRESUMO
SARS-CoV-2 (2019-nCoV) is the pathogenic coronavirus responsible for the global pandemic of COVID-19 disease. The Spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 attaches to host lung epithelial cells through the cell surface receptor ACE2, a process dependent on host proteases including TMPRSS2. Here, we identify small molecules that reduce surface expression of TMPRSS2 using a library of 2,560 FDA-approved or current clinical trial compounds. We identify homoharringtonine and halofuginone as the most attractive agents, reducing endogenous TMPRSS2 expression at sub-micromolar concentrations. These effects appear to be mediated by a drug-induced alteration in TMPRSS2 protein stability. We further demonstrate that halofuginone modulates TMPRSS2 levels through proteasomal-mediated degradation that involves the E3 ubiquitin ligase component DDB1- and CUL4-associated factor 1 (DCAF1). Finally, cells exposed to homoharringtonine and halofuginone, at concentrations of drug known to be achievable in human plasma, demonstrate marked resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in both live and pseudoviral in vitro models. Given the safety and pharmacokinetic data already available for the compounds identified in our screen, these results should help expedite the rational design of human clinical trials designed to combat active COVID-19 infection.
Assuntos
Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , Mepesuccinato de Omacetaxina/farmacologia , Piperidinas/farmacologia , Quinazolinonas/farmacologia , SARS-CoV-2/efeitos dos fármacos , SARS-CoV-2/fisiologia , Serina Endopeptidases/metabolismo , Internalização do Vírus/efeitos dos fármacos , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2/metabolismo , Animais , COVID-19/metabolismo , COVID-19/patologia , COVID-19/virologia , Células Cultivadas , Chlorocebus aethiops , Ensaios de Triagem em Larga Escala/métodos , Humanos , Pulmão/efeitos dos fármacos , Pulmão/metabolismo , Pulmão/patologia , Pulmão/virologia , Camundongos , Inibidores da Síntese de Proteínas/farmacologia , SARS-CoV-2/isolamento & purificação , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/metabolismoRESUMO
SARS-CoV-2 (2019-nCoV) is the pathogenic coronavirus responsible for the global pandemic of COVID-19 disease. The Spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 attaches to host lung epithelial cells through the cell surface receptor ACE2, a process dependent on host proteases including TMPRSS2. Here, we identified small molecules that can reduce surface expression of TMPRSS2 using a 2,700 FDA-approved or current clinical trial compounds. Among these, homoharringtonine and halofuginone appear the most potent agents, reducing endogenous TMPRSS2 expression at sub-micromolar concentrations. These effects appear to be mediated by a drug-induced alteration in TMPRSS2 protein stability. We further demonstrate that halofuginone modulates TMPRSS2 levels through proteasomal-mediated degradation that involves the E3 ubiquitin ligase component DDB1- and CUL4-associated factor 1 (DCAF1). Finally, cells exposed to homoharringtonine and halofuginone, at concentrations of drug known to be achievable in human plasma, demonstrated marked resistance to SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviral infection. Given the safety and pharmacokinetic data already available for the compounds identified in our screen, these results should help expedite the rational design of human clinical trials designed to combat COVID-19 infection.
RESUMO
Functional activities of many transmembrane proteins are controlled by their endocytosis. One of the most studied experimental models is the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR). However, endocytic trafficking of EGFR has been predominantly analyzed using labeled EGF, whereas quantitative analyses of the endocytosis of the receptor itself have been sparse. The fluorescence microscopy methods described here are designed to directly quantify EGFR internalization in living cells without labeled EGFR ligands or antibodies. These methods utilize an engineered EGFR chimera in which the fluorogen activating protein (FAP) is fused to the receptor extracellular domain (FAP-EGFR). Binding of malachite green (MG) based dyes to FAP results in a strong far-red fluorescence of MG, thus efficiently labeling FAP-EGFR. In particular, binding of the cell impermeant MG-Bis-SA dye to FAP produces the pH-sensitive dual-excitation fluorescence, which allows differentiation of the cell-surface and internalized pools of FAP-EGFR. Two modifications of the methodology are described: 1) single-cell three-dimensional confocal imaging; and 2) high-throughput assay in multi-well plates. These methodologies can be adopted to study endocytosis of any other transmembrane protein extracellularly tagged with FAP.
RESUMO
The norepinephrine transporter (NET) mediates the clearance of norepinephrine (NE) from the extracellular space and is a target of therapeutic antidepressants and psychostimulants. Previously we identified a MAP kinase phosphatase 3 (MKP3), as an important modulator of protein kinase C (PKC) mediated internalization of the related dopamine transporter (DAT). Here we show that MKP3 decreases PKC-mediated down regulation of NET expressed in PC12 cells. We demonstrate that this process involves a PKC-stimulated decrease of NET surface expression that is dependent on dynamin. Surprisingly, MAP kinase inhibitors have no effect on the PKC-mediated regulation of NET activity, suggesting that, like PKC-mediated regulation of the DAT, the acute activation of MAP kinases is not likely to be involved. To elucidate potential mechanisms we used a substrate trap-based assay to identify extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 as the predominant substrate of MKP3. Furthermore we also established that brief chemical stabilization of a modified destabilized MKP3 does not alter PKC-mediated down regulation of NET. Finally, the expression of a dominant negative version of H-Ras, an upstream activator of ERK1/2, abolishes phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-mediated down regulation of NET in a manner similar to MKP3. Taken together we propose that chronic MKP3 expression regulates surface NET through the sustained inhibition of ERK1/2 MAP kinase signaling that alters gene expression in PC12 cells. This is supported by gene expression data from naïve and MKP3-expressing PC12 cells that reveal robust decreases in gene expression of several genes in the MKP3-tranfected cells. Interestingly, caveolin-1, a protein with a critical role in membrane protein trafficking is down regulated by MKP3 expression. We further show that selective silencing of the caveolin-1 gene in naïve PC12 cells attenuates PKC-mediated downregulation of NET activity, consistent with a potential role for caveolins in regulating NET surface expression. In summary, these results suggest that chronic MKP3 expression alters the expression of genes in PC12 cells that are involved in the regulation of NET surface expression.
RESUMO
The trematode Schistosoma mansoni is the primary cause of schistosomiasis, a devastating neglected tropical disease that affects 200 million individuals. Identifying novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of schistosomiasis is therefore of great public interest. The catecholamines norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) are essential for the survival of the parasite as they cause muscular relaxation and a lengthening in the parasite and thereby control movement. Here we characterize a novel dopamine/norepinephrine transporter (SmDAT) gene transcript, from S. mansoni. The SmDAT is expressed in the adult form and in the sporocyst form (infected snails) of the parasite, and also in the egg and miracidium stage. It is absent in the cercariae stage but curiously a transcript missing the exon encoding transmembrane domain 8 was identified in this stage. Heterologous expression of the cDNA in mammalian cells resulted in saturable, dopamine transport activity with an apparent affinity for dopamine comparable to that of the human dopamine transporter. Efflux experiments reveal notably higher substrate selectivity compared with its mammalian counterparts as amphetamine is a much less potent efflux elicitor against SmDAT compared to the human DAT. Pharmacological characterization of the SmDAT revealed that most human DAT inhibitors including psychostimulants such as cocaine were significantly less potent in inhibiting SmDAT. Like DATs from other simpler organisms the pharmacology for SmDAT was more similar to the human norepinephrine transporter. We were not able to identify other dopamine transporting carriers within the completed parasite genome and we hypothesize that the SmDAT is the only catecholamine transporter in the parasite and could be responsible for not only clearing DA but also NE.
Assuntos
Fármacos do Sistema Nervoso Autônomo/metabolismo , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Catecolaminas/química , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Catecolaminas/metabolismo , Catecolaminas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Helminto/química , Proteínas de Helminto/metabolismo , Schistosoma mansoni/metabolismo , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Fármacos do Sistema Nervoso Autônomo/química , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Catecolaminas/genética , Catecolaminas/química , Linhagem Celular , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento , Proteínas de Helminto/genética , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Estrutura Terciária de Proteína , Schistosoma mansoni/genética , Schistosoma mansoni/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Esquistossomose mansoni , Caramujos/parasitologia , Especificidade por SubstratoRESUMO
The serotonin transporter (SERT) belongs to a family of sodium-chloride-dependent transporters responsible for uptake of amino acids and biogenic amines from the extracellular space. SERT represents a major pharmacological target in the treatment of several clinical conditions, including depression and anxiety. In the present study we have undertaken a mutational scanning of human SERT in order to identify residues that are responsible for individual differences among related monoamine transporters. One mutant, G100A, was inactive in transport. However, ligand binding affinity was similar to wild-type, suggesting that G100A amongst different possible SERT conformations is restrained to a binding conformation. We suggest that the main role of glycine-100 is to confer structural flexibility during substrate translocation. For the two single mutants, T178A and F263C, uptake rates and K(m) values were both several-fold higher than wild-type while binding affinities and inhibitory potencies decreased considerably for several drugs. Ion dependency increased and only at hyperosmotic concentrations were K(m) values partly restored. For the double mutant, T178A/F263C, shifts in uptake kinetics and ligand affinities, as well as ion dependencies, were drastic. Effects were synergistic compared to the corresponding single mutants. In conclusion, we suggest that mutating threonine-178 to an alanine and phenylalanine-263 to a cysteine mainly alter the overall uptake kinetics of SERT by affecting the conformational equilibrium of different transporter conformations.