Research: MEMBRANE TRANSPORT Folding Project #17917

Measuring the Effects of Post-translational Modification on Membrane Transporter Function and Oligomerization: Membrane transporters possess terminal tails which can variably regulate their substrate recognition, gating dynamics, and oligomerization (see https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsob.190083 for a review).

To reflect physiological conditions and satisfy the instantaneous demands of cells, these termini are known to be post-translationally modified (PTM).

PTMs, like phosphorylation, have been shown to regulate transporter function through allostery or direct local interactions, thus blocking transmembrane substrate import and/or export. Simulations in this project will be focused on studying how C-terminal phosphorylation affects oligomerization dynamics of a sugar transporter.

While a basic protein folding problem, understanding how PTMs affect transporter oligomerization, and oligomer dynamics, is critical for understanding biological regulations for basal transport activity.

This study's ability to observe how terminal PTMs may influence sugar transport dynamics has implications for studying cells in altered metabolic states.