InterPro domain: IPR002293

Amino acid permeases are integral membrane proteins involved in the transport of amino acids into the cell. A number of such proteins have been found to be evolutionary related [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. These proteins include several yeast specific and general amino acid permeases; Emericella nidulans (Aspergillus nidulans) proline transport protein (gene prnB); Trichoderma harzianum amino acid permease INDA1; Salmonella typhimurium L-asparagine permease (gene ansP); and several Escherichia coli and other bacterial permeases and transport proteins. These proteins seem to contain up to 12 transmembrane segments. This entry consists of members of the amino acid-polyamine-organocation (APC) superfamily [ 4 ].

Also included in this entry is the methylthioribose transporter mtrA from Bacillus subtilis, which transports methylthioribose into the cell [ 5 ].

1. Evolutionary relationship and secondary structure predictions in four transport proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Mol. Evol. 27, 341-50
2. Nucleotide sequence of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PUT4 proline-permease-encoding gene: similarities between CAN1, HIP1 and PUT4 permeases. Gene 83, 153-9
3. Mammalian integral membrane receptors are homologous to facilitators and antiporters of yeast, fungi, and eubacteria. Protein Sci. 2, 20-30
4. The amino acid/polyamine/organocation (APC) superfamily of transporters specific for amino acids, polyamines and organocations. Microbiology (Reading, Engl.) 146 ( Pt 8), 1797-814
5. Bacillus subtilis, the model Gram-positive bacterium: 20 years of annotation refinement. Microb Biotechnol 11, 3-17