Nature Communications: Antimicrobial Peptide Transporter SbmA Structure Reveals ABC-Like Mechanism
A Nature Communications paper published April 15 reveals shared structural mechanisms between SbmA — an E. coli membrane transporter that imports antimicrobial peptides — and ABC transporters. Using cryo-electron microscopy, EPR spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations, researchers demonstrated SbmA undergoes ABC-transporter-like conformational changes, informing strategies to design antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-penetrating peptide drugs.