Autophagy-related protein 22 and similar proteins; member of the Major Facilitator Superfamily of transporters
Atg22 (also known as Aut4) protein functions as a vacuolar effluxer which mediates the efflux of amino acids resulting from autophagic degradation. The release of autophagic amino acids allows the maintenance of protein synthesis and viability during nitrogen starvation. Members of this family belong to the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) of membrane transport proteins, which are thought to function through a single substrate binding site, alternating-access mechanism involving a rocker-switch type of movement.
Feature 1:putative chemical substrate binding pocket [chemical binding site]
Evidence:
Comment:based on the structures of MFS transporters with bound substrates, substrate analogs, and/or inhibitors
Comment:since MFS proteins facilitate the transport of many different substrates including ions, sugar phosphates, drugs, neurotransmitters, nucleosides, amino acids, and peptides, the residues involved in substrate binding may not be strictly conserved among superfamily members
Comment:the substrate binding site or translocation pore has access to both sides of the membrane in an alternating fashion through a conformational change of the MFS transporter