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Poul Nissen

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Open access Jul 2026

Mechanistic Insights into Autoinhibition of the Human Flippase ATP8B1

P4-ATPases are lipid flippases that maintain membrane phospholipid asymmetry by transporting specific phospholipids from the exoplasmic to the cytosolic leaflet, an essential process for membrane integrity, trafficking and signaling. Several P4-ATPases are tightly regulated by autoinhibitory N- and C-terminal extensions, yet the molecular basis of this regulation remains incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the autoinhibition mechanism of the human flippase ATP8B1 using trans-inhibition assays with synthetic peptides derived from its C-terminal tail. Using purified C-terminally truncated ATP8B1-CDC50A, we systematically assessed the inhibitory properties of peptides corresponding to distinct segments of the C-terminus. We show that the distal disordered region of the C-terminal tail significantly contributes to autoinhibition, likely through transient interactions with the cytosolic domains. We further identify a critical interaction between R1228 in the C-terminal tail and E219 in the A-domain, whose disruption markedly reduces inhibitory potency. In addition, we demonstrate that a minimal peptide spanning residues 1216-1228, which bridges the A- and N-domains in the autoinhibited conformation, is sufficient to inhibit ATPase activity. Together, these results refine the molecular description of ATP8B1 autoinhibition, open the way for structure-based activation strategies and provide insight into conserved regulatory mechanisms among P4-ATPases.

Michelle Juknaviciute Laursen, Mathilde Roth, Poul Nissen et al. · 0 citations
Review Open access Aug 2026

Dimerization in the SLC12 family: Structural and biochemical perspectives.

Solute carrier proteins (SLCs) are essential membrane protein transporters of small solutes. Among them, the SLC12 family is known to facilitate transport of ions. Members of the SLC12 family ensure cell homeostasis by co-transporting chloride alongside sodium and/or potassium across the plasma membrane. The majority of SLC12 proteins are well described, and a recent surge in structural studies facilitated by cryo-electron microscopy revealed molecular details of their function. These include multiple conformations of the transporters, covering a range of functional states and providing a window into the ion transport mechanism. Yet, only limited knowledge exists regarding their dimerization or higher order oligomerization and its role in regulation, despite SLC12 proteins consistently operating as dimers. In this review, we highlight the structural knowledgebase established in recent years and summarize the varying dimerization mechanisms. Altogether, it is becoming increasingly clear that large conformational changes in dimeric arrangements deserve attention, alongside other understudied areas like lipid interactions, nucleotide or N-terminal binding to the dimerization domains, and potential roles of the less described member SLC12A9.

Alexandra Náplavová, Poul Nissen, R. K. Flygaard · 0 citations