Ins and Outs of Rocker Switch Mechanism in Major Facilitator Superfamily of Transporters

by Sauve, S.; Williamson, J.; Polasa, A.; Moradi, M.

The major facilitator superfamily (MFS) of transporters consists of three classes of membrane transporters: symporters, uniporters, and antiporters. Despite such diverse functions, MFS transporters are believed to undergo similar conformational changes within their distinct transport cycles, known as the rocker-switch mechanism. While the similarities between conformational changes are noteworthy, the differences are also important since they could potentially explain the distinct functions of symporters, uniporters, and antiporters of the MFS superfamily. We reviewed a variety of experimental and computational structural data on a select number of antiporters, symporters, and uniporters from the MFS family to compare the similarities and differences of the conformational dynamics of three different classes of transporters.

Journal
Membranes
Volume
13
Issue
5
Year
2023
URL
https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/membranes13050462
ISBN/ISSN
2077-0375
DOI
10.3390/membranes13050462