9K1B | pdb_00009k1b

Cryo-EM structure of human taurine transporter TauT bound with taurine in an occluded state


Experimental Data Snapshot

  • Method: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
  • Resolution: 3.34 Å
  • Aggregation State: PARTICLE 
  • Reconstruction Method: SINGLE PARTICLE 

wwPDB Validation   3D Report Full Report


This is version 1.1 of the entry. See complete history


Literature

Molecular basis of human taurine transporter uptake and inhibition.

Du, B.Cheng, L.Xie, J.Chen, L.Yan, K.

(2025) Nat Commun 16: 7394-7394

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62857-w
  • Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
    9K0C, 9K0N, 9K0O, 9K1B, 9K1F, 9K1H, 9K1I, 9K1V, 9K1X, 9K1Z, 9K21

  • PubMed Abstract: 

    The taurine transporter, TauT, regulates various taurine-mediated physiological and pathological functions by facilitating taurine uptake in a sodium- and chloride-dependent manner. Dysfunction of TauT is associated with male infertility, retinal health and cancers. Despite extensive research efforts, the intricate structure of TauT, the molecular mechanisms underlying taurine transport, and the inhibition mechanisms involved, all remain elusive. Here, we present eleven cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of TauT. The structures TauT bound to substrate (taurine) and substrate analogues (β-alanine, guanidinoacetate, and γ-aminobutyric acid), are captured in distinct conformations. Combining with biochemical analyses, these structures reveal that amino acids Leu134 and Glu406 play a crucial role in substrate specificity within the GABA subfamily. Five distinct inhibitors, namely, piperidine-4-sulfonic acid, imidazole-4-acetatic acid, 5-aminovaleric acid, nipecotic acid and homotaurine, stabilize TauT in an inward-open conformation. Conversely, guanidinoethyl sulphonate stabilizes TauT in the occluded state. These structural insights offer a comprehensive understanding of how these inhibitors counteract taurine transport. Collectively, these findings advance our understanding of the substrate coordination and inhibitor recognition mechanisms of TauT.


  • Organizational Affiliation
    • Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Biomolecular Assembling and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.

Macromolecules
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Entity ID: 1
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
Sodium- and chloride-dependent taurine transporter651Homo sapiensMutation(s): 12 
Gene Names: SLC6A6
UniProt & NIH Common Fund Data Resources
Find proteins for P31641 (Homo sapiens)
Explore P31641 
Go to UniProtKB:  P31641
PHAROS:  P31641
GTEx:  ENSG00000131389 
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
UniProt GroupP31641
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
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Entity ID: 2
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
Fragment antigen binding heavy chainB [auth H]118Homo sapiensMutation(s): 0 
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
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Entity ID: 3
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
Fragment antigen binding light chainC [auth L]138Homo sapiensMutation(s): 0 
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
Experimental Data & Validation

Experimental Data

  • Method: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
  • Resolution: 3.34 Å
  • Aggregation State: PARTICLE 
  • Reconstruction Method: SINGLE PARTICLE 

Structure Validation

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Entry History & Funding Information

Deposition Data

  • Released Date: 2025-08-20 
  • Deposition Author(s): Du, B., Yan, K.

Funding OrganizationLocationGrant Number
National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)China--

Revision History  (Full details and data files)

  • Version 1.0: 2025-08-20
    Type: Initial release
  • Version 1.1: 2025-09-10
    Changes: Data collection, Database references