Transporters articles from across Nature Portfolio

Major hurdles remain in understanding the mechanisms of multidrug resistance (MDR) protein efflux. A new study uses deep mutational scanning of a bacterial MDR protein to determine the nature of its drug-binding cavity and understand its function and plasticity.

The cryo-electron microscopy structure of a fluoroquinolone efflux transporter, NorA, in complex with an antibody fragment provides a new strategy whereby peptide inhibitors derived from antibody loops could be used to block antibiotic efflux in a drug-resistant superbug.

The plant cuticle has long been considered a barrier to volatile organic compound emission. New research reveals the paradoxical role of the cuticle as a barrier and facilitator of volatile emissions in hybrid petunia.

An NMR method to monitor conformational states of challenging large protein targets is described. The method, which can be used to evaluate distances between two labels and to measure conformational exchange rates, revealed an unanticipated outward-facing state in a glutamate transporter.

The mechanisms by which bioactive drugs get into their target cells is a question that has been greatly neglected. A new survey with CRISPR–Cas9 shows the widespread importance of protein transporters called solute carriers (SLCs).