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Bacterial zinc transporters and regulators

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Zinc Biochemistry, Physiology, and Homeostasis

Abstract

Zn2+ homeostasis in bacteria is achieved by export systems and uptake systems which are separately regulated by their own regulators. Three types of Zn2+ export systems that protect cells from high toxic concentrations of Zn2+ have been identified: RND multi-drug efflux transporters, P-type ATPases, and cation-diffusion facilitators. The RND type exporters for Zn2+ are only found in a few gram-negative bacteria; they allow a very efficient export across the cytoplasmic membrane and the outer membrane of the cell. P-type ATPases and cation-diffusion facilitators belong to protein families that are also found in eukaryotes. The exporters are regulated in bacteria by MerR-like repressor/activators or by ArsR-like repressors. For the high-affinity uptake of Zn2+, several bindingprotein-dependent ABC transporters belonging to one class have been identified in different bacteria. Zn2+ ABC transporters are regulated by Zur repressors, which belong to the Fur protein family of iron regulators. Little is known about low-affinity Zn2+ uptake under zinc-replete conditions. One known example is the phosphate uptake system Pit, which may cotransport Zn2+ in Escherichia coli. Similarly, the citrate—metal cotransporter CitM in Bacillus subtilis may help to supply Zn2+.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mikrobiologie/Membranphysiologie, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, D-72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Klaus Hantke

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  1. Klaus Hantke
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    W. Maret

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© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Hantke, K. (2001). Bacterial zinc transporters and regulators. In: Maret, W. (eds) Zinc Biochemistry, Physiology, and Homeostasis. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3728-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3728-9_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5916-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-3728-9

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