Quantum dot probes for the quantitative study of drug transport by the MacAB TolC efflux pump in lipid scaffolds
ABC tripartite efflux pumps are macromolecular membrane protein machineries that expel a large variety of drugs and export virulence factors from Gram negative bacteria. Using a lipid scaffold mimicking the two-membrane environment of the transporter and designing spectroscopic conditions allowing the monitoring of both ATP hydrolysis and substrate transport in real time, we show that MacAB-TolC accommodates transport and energy consumption with high coupling efficiency.
biochemistry↗