Structural basis for silicic acid uptake by higher plants
Structural basis for silicic acid uptake by higher plants
Many of the world's most important food crops such as rice, barley and maize accumulate silicon (Si) to high levels, resulting in better plant growth and crop yields. The first step in Si accumulation is the uptake of silicic acid by the roots, a process mediated by the structurally uncharacterised NIP subfamily of aquaporins, also named metalloid porins. Here, we present the X-ray crystal structure of the archetypal NIP family member from Oryza sativa (OsNIP2;1). The OsNIP2;1 channel is closed in the crystal structure by the cytoplasmic loop D, which is known to regulate channel opening in classical plant aquaporins. The structure further reveals a novel, five-residue extracellular selectivity filter with a large diameter. Unbiased molecular dynamics simulations show a rapid opening of the channel and visualise how silicic acid interacts with the selectivity filter prior to transmembrane diffusion. Our results will enable detailed structure–function studies of metalloid porins, including the basis of their substrate selectivity.
NIP channel, X-ray crystal structure, aquaporin, molecular dynamics, silicic acid transport
van den Berg, Bert
d24aad29-10a4-4ffa-b893-58ba00a413f0
Pedebos, Conrado
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Reddy Bolla, Jani
2938cca2-6559-431c-a357-2bae109e6c75
Robinson, Carol V.
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Basle, Arnaud
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Khalid, Syma
90fbd954-7248-4f47-9525-4d6af9636394
15 October 2021
van den Berg, Bert
d24aad29-10a4-4ffa-b893-58ba00a413f0
Pedebos, Conrado
87801080-118f-4814-8f86-3524184b0d88
Reddy Bolla, Jani
2938cca2-6559-431c-a357-2bae109e6c75
Robinson, Carol V.
54050df3-1bf7-42d9-a5eb-c39e010f1bbe
Basle, Arnaud
634a4c07-c904-46b1-99d0-5beba63f52fa
Khalid, Syma
90fbd954-7248-4f47-9525-4d6af9636394
van den Berg, Bert, Pedebos, Conrado, Reddy Bolla, Jani, Robinson, Carol V., Basle, Arnaud and Khalid, Syma
(2021)
Structural basis for silicic acid uptake by higher plants.
Journal of Molecular Biology, 433 (21), [167226].
(doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167226).
Abstract
Many of the world's most important food crops such as rice, barley and maize accumulate silicon (Si) to high levels, resulting in better plant growth and crop yields. The first step in Si accumulation is the uptake of silicic acid by the roots, a process mediated by the structurally uncharacterised NIP subfamily of aquaporins, also named metalloid porins. Here, we present the X-ray crystal structure of the archetypal NIP family member from Oryza sativa (OsNIP2;1). The OsNIP2;1 channel is closed in the crystal structure by the cytoplasmic loop D, which is known to regulate channel opening in classical plant aquaporins. The structure further reveals a novel, five-residue extracellular selectivity filter with a large diameter. Unbiased molecular dynamics simulations show a rapid opening of the channel and visualise how silicic acid interacts with the selectivity filter prior to transmembrane diffusion. Our results will enable detailed structure–function studies of metalloid porins, including the basis of their substrate selectivity.
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Accepted/In Press date: 28 August 2021
Published date: 15 October 2021
Keywords:
NIP channel, X-ray crystal structure, aquaporin, molecular dynamics, silicic acid transport
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 453531
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/453531
ISSN: 0022-2836
PURE UUID: 9bcfb767-bdf7-41e9-ac96-96fedb5585c6
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Date deposited: 19 Jan 2022 17:35
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:11
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Contributors
Author:
Bert van den Berg
Author:
Conrado Pedebos
Author:
Jani Reddy Bolla
Author:
Carol V. Robinson
Author:
Arnaud Basle
Author:
Syma Khalid
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