Membrane Transport Mechanisms

Group leader
Igor Tascón
Address

Biofisika Institute (CSIC-UPV/EHU)
Science Park of the UPV/EHU
Barrio Sarriena s/n. 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia (Spain)

Research goal

Our research delves into the molecular mechanisms of solute transport across biological membranes, focusing on those involved in human diseases. We seek to identify the structural and functional determinants that govern solute movement via active transmembrane carriers. This knowledge will enhance our understanding of solute homeostasis and the pathologies associated with transport dysfunction. In a multidisciplinary environment, we employ biochemical and biophysical techniques to characterize membrane transporters at the molecular level. By integrating high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) with functional assays, we aim to elucidate the precise structural and mechanistic basis of solute transport.

Group members
PhD Student
Ikerbasque Research Fellow
Publications

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González-Magaña A.*, Tascón I.*, Altuna-Alvarez J., Queralt-Martín M., Colautti J., Velázquez C., Zabala M., Rojas-Palomino J., Cárdenas M., Alcaraz A., Whitney J.C., Ubarretxena-Belandia I., Albesa-Jové D

Structural and functional insights into the delivery of a bacterial Rhs pore-forming toxin to the membrane
Nat commun 2023 14, 7808.
10.1038/s41467-023-43585-5

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Fuss M.F.*, Wieferig J-P.*, Corey R.A.*, Hellmich Y., Tascón I., Sousa J., Stansfeld P., Vonck J., Hänelt I

Cyclic di-AMP traps proton-coupled K+ transporters of the KUP family in an inward-occluded conformation
Nat commun 2023 14, 3683
10.1038/s41467-023-38944-1

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Tascón I.*, Li X.*, Lucas M., Nelson D., Lin YH., Rojas AL, Hierro A., Machner MP

Structural insight into the membrane targeting domain of the Legionella deAMPylase SidD
PLOS Pathogens 2020 16 (8), e1008734
10.1371/journal.ppat.1008734

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Tascón I.*, Sousa J.*, Corey R., Mills D., Griwatz D., Aumüller N., Mikusevic V., Stansfeld P., Vonck J., Hänelt I

Structural basis of proton-coupled potassium transport in the KUP family
Nat commun 2020 11, 626
10.1038/s41467-020-14441-7

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Gundlach J., Krüger L., Herzberg C., Turdiev A., Poehlein A, Tascón I., Weiß M., Hertel D., Daniel R., Hänelt I., Lee V.T., Stülke J

Sustained sensing in potassium hoemostasis: Cyclic di-AMP controls potassium uptake by KimA at the levels of expression and activity
Journal of Biological Chemistry 2019 294 (24), 9605-9614
10.1074/jbc.RA119.008774

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Stock C.*, Hielkema L.*, Tascón I.*, Wunnicke D., Oostergetel G.T., Azkargorta M., Paulino C., Hänelt I

Cryo-EM structures of KdpFABC reveal K+ transport mechanism via two inter-subunit half-channels
Nat commun 2018 9 (1):4971
10.1038/s41467-018-07319-2

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Hellwig N.*, Peetz O.*, Ahdash Z., Tascón I., Booth P.J., Mikusevic V., Diskowski M., Politis A., Hellmich Y. Hänelt I., Reading E., Morgner N

Native mass spectrometry goes more native: investigation of membrane protein complexes directly from SMALPs
ChemComm 2018 54 (97) 13702-13705
10.1039/c8cc06284f