Sequence Analyses and Phylogenetic Characterization of the ZIP Family of Metal Ion Transport Proteins (original) (raw)

Abstract

Several novel but similar heavy metal ion transporters, Zrt1, Zrt2, Zip1-4 and Irt1, have recently been characterized. Zrt1, Zrt2 and Zip1-4 are probably zinc transporters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana whereas Irt1 appears to play a role in iron uptake in A. thaliana. The family of proteins including these functionally characterized transporters has been designated the Zrt- and Irt-related protein (ZIP) family. In this report, ZIP family proteins in the current databases were identified and multiply aligned, and a phylogenetic tree for the family was constructed. A family specific signature sequence was derived, and the available sequences were analyzed for residues of potential functional significance. A fully conserved intramembranous histidyl residue, present within a putative amphipathic, α-helical, transmembrane spanning segment, was identified which may serve as a part of an intrachannel heavy metal ion binding site. The occurrence of a proposed extramembranal metal binding motif (H X H X H) was examined in order to evaluate its potential functional significance for various members of the family. The computational analyses reported in this topical review should serve as a guide to future researchers interested in the structure-function relationships of ZIP family proteins.

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Zinc Transporter Proteins

Article 14 December 2017

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0116, USA
    B.H. Eng & M.H. Saier Jr.
  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
    M.L. Guerinot
  3. Nutritional Sciences Program, Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
    D. Eide

Authors

  1. B.H. Eng
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  2. M.L. Guerinot
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  3. D. Eide
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  4. M.H. Saier Jr.
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Received: 31 March 1997/Revised: 14 May 1998

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Eng, B., Guerinot, M., Eide, D. et al. Sequence Analyses and Phylogenetic Characterization of the ZIP Family of Metal Ion Transport Proteins.J. Membrane Biol. 166, 1–7 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002329900442

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