The diversity of links between the functional and structural features of carboxylate transporters in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells: Implications in health and biotechnology

Abstract

Carboxylic acids are one of the most prevalent and abundant organic compounds found in Nature and essential intermediates for cell metabolism. Cell homeostasis of each organism in an ecosystem is highly dependent on the transport of specific molecules across the cell membrane. Carboxylic acid transporters form a heterogeneous group of proteins from different families and biological origins, showing diverse structural features, modes of action and regulation processes. Detailed understanding of the metabolism and mechanisms of transport of these compounds has become more important than ever, both from a fundamental and an applied point of view. In this presentation I will report distinct studies carried out in yeast, bacteria and human cells that culminated in the identification of multiple physiological roles played by carboxylic acid transporters 1,2