Diffusion through channel derivatives of the Escherichia coli FhuA transport protein

FhuA is a multifunctional protein in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli that actively transports [Fe3+]ferrichrome, the antibiotics albomycin and rifamycin CGP 4832, and mediates sensitivity of cells to the unrelated phages T5, T1, φ80 and UC‐1, and to colicin M and microcin J25. The energy source of active transport is the proton motive force of the cytoplasmic membrane that is required for all FhuA functions except for infection by phage T5. The FhuA crystal structure reveals 22 antiparallel transmembrane β‐strands that form a β‐barrel which is closed by a globular N‐terminal domain. FhuA still displays active transport and sensitivity to all ligands except microcin J25 when the globular domain (residues 5–160) is excised and supports weakly unspecific diffusion of substrates across the outer membrane. Here it is shown that isolated FhuAΔ5–160 supported diffusion of ions through artificial planar lipid bilayer membranes but did not form stable channels. The double mutant FhuAΔ5–160 Δ322–336 lacking in addition to the globular domain most of the large surface loop 4 which partially constricts the channel entrance, displayed an increased single‐channel conductance but formed no stable channels. It transported in vivo[Fe3+]ferrichrome with 45% of the rate of wild‐type FhuA and did not increase sensitivity of cells to antibiotics. In contrast, a second FhuA double mutant derivative which in addition to the globular domain contained a deletion of residues 335–355 comprising one‐third of surface loop 4 and half of the transmembrane β‐strand 8 formed stable channels in lipid bilayers with a large single‐channel conductance of 2.5 nS in 1 m KCl. Cells that synthesized FhuAΔ5–160 Δ335–355 showed an increased sensitivity to antibiotics and supported diffusion of maltodextrins, SDS and ferrichrome across the outer membrane. FhuAΔ5–160 Δ335–355 showed no FhuA specific functions such as active transport of [Fe3+]ferrichrome or sensitivity to the other FhuA ligands. It is concluded that FhuAΔ5–160 Δ335–355 assumes a conformation that is incompatible with any of the FhuA functions.