Asymmetry and Conformational Changes of the E. Coli Ribose ABC Transporter

source adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to carry out this biological process, which is evolutionarily preserved across all organisms. By combining biochemical experiments with structural biology, we seek to understand how the conversion of ATP to ADP controls the conformational changes of an ABC importer, which in turn allows substrates to enter the cell. Since the current mechanism of membrane transport for importers is incomplete, understanding the transport process requires a comprehensive structural analysis of one full length ABC transporter trapped in different conformations along the transport process. This research program has set out to close critical gaps in the understanding of the fundamentals of the transport mechanism in bacterial pathogens. The results will yield insights into how type II transporters utilize ATP hydrolysis to coordinate transport across all organisms, crucial for cell viability.