P.D.Bosshart
et al.
(2019).
Mechanistic basis of L-lactate transport in the SLC16 solute carrier family.
Nat Commun,
10,
2649.
PubMed id: 31201333
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10566-6
In human and other mammalian cells, transport of L-lactate across plasma
membranes is mainly catalyzed by monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) of the
SLC16 solute carrier family. MCTs play an important role in cancer metabolism
and are promising targets for tumor treatment. Here, we report the crystal
structures of an SLC16 family homologue with two different bound ligands at 2.54
and 2.69 Å resolution. The structures show the transporter in the
pharmacologically relevant outward-open conformation. Structural information
together with a detailed structure-based analysis of the transport function
provide important insights into the molecular working mechanisms of ligand
binding and L-lactate transport.