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.
Access this article
Subscribe and save
- Get 10 units per month
- Download Article/Chapter or eBook
- 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
- Cancel anytime Subscribe now
Buy Now
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.
Instant access to the full article PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
Zinc Transporter Proteins
Article 14 December 2017
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
- Department of Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0116, USA
B.H. Eng & M.H. Saier Jr. - Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
M.L. Guerinot - Nutritional Sciences Program, Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
D. Eide
Authors
- B.H. Eng
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - M.L. Guerinot
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - D. Eide
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - M.H. Saier Jr.
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
Additional information
Received: 31 March 1997/Revised: 14 May 1998
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
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
- Published: 02 February 2014
- Issue Date: November 1998
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002329900442