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Elevating the alternating-access model

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology volume 23, pages 187–189 (2016)Cite this article

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50 years ago, Jardetzky proposed the alternating-access model, which has shaped the theoretical understanding of how substrates are carried across cell membranes. Two studies now demonstrate that transporters from distinct families undergo unexpectedly large elevator-like movements and also suggest that an 'elevate and twist' mechanism is a common means of achieving alternating access across the membrane.

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Figure 1: Alternating-access mechanisms of substrate transport across the membrane.
Figure 2: The two domains of elevator transporters.

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  1. Renae M. Ryan and Robert J. Vandenberg are at the Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,

    Renae M Ryan & Robert J Vandenberg

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  1. Renae M Ryan
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  2. Robert J Vandenberg
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Correspondence to Renae M Ryan.

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Ryan, R., Vandenberg, R. Elevating the alternating-access model. Nat Struct Mol Biol 23, 187–189 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.3179

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