Permeation and transport articles from across Nature Portfolio

Amino acid transport is essential for metabolism and cell signalling. Here, authors demonstrate that the gene SLC7A4 encodes a plasma membrane leucine transporter regulated by extracellular pH.

Native AMPA receptors are heteromeric complexes of GluA1-4 and auxiliary subunits. Here, authors report structures of the most abundant GluA1/A2 core in the closed, open, and desensitized states, allowing to decipher the role of auxiliary subunits in different synaptic complexes.

Taurine transporter TauT is a key drug target for multiple diseases. Here, authors reveal structure of human TauT in four states, showing how inhibitors mimic taurine and guiding future TauT-targeted drug design.

SLCO2A1 (also known as OATP2A1) is responsible for the transport of eicosanoids, including prostaglandins (PGs), as well as of a subset of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Here, structures of SLCO2A1 bound to PGs and to four widely used drugs elucidate the molecular basis for PG and drug recognition.

TRPV5 ion channels play pivotal roles in epithelial physiology. Here, the authors describe that the common compound menthol acts as a pore blocker on these channels and provide a functional and structural picture of its mechanism of action.

Tight regulation of carbonate chemistry is required for biomineralization to occur. Here, the authors identify proton channel as key regulator of high intracellular proton conductance and maintenance of alkaline pH in the calcifying vesicles of larval sea urchin cells.

A clear picture of how and why cells inevitably lose viability is still lacking. A dynamical systems view of starving bacteria points to a continuous energy expenditure needed for maintaining the right osmotic pressure as an important factor.

In this work, Morgenstern and colleagues describe an approach involving functionalized nanobodies which decrease the activity of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels associated with β₁ subunits and promote their removal from the surface membrane of neurons and muscle.

Entropy-driven protein sorting traffics membrane-anchored exposed proteins to the surface of Gram-positive bacteria.

Using organic solvent shortens formation time of membrane nanosheets comprising proteins and copolymers, while tuning protein structure tailors the pore geometry, resulting in superior water permeation.

Cellular organelles extensively communicate with each other by close interactions, known as membrane contact sites. Schuldiner and Bohnert comment on the progress of this rapidly developing field, highlighting that the complexity of interactions at membrane contact sites is only now starting to emerge.

A nanopore built from DNA allows the controlled and selective transport of organic molecules across a lipid membrane.