InterPro domain: IPR003339

ECF (energy-coupling factor) transporters are a subgroup of ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporters involved in the uptake of vitamins and micronutrients in prokaryotes [ 1 ]. ECF transporters are protein complexes consisting of a conserved module (two peripheral ATPases and the integral membrane protein EcfT) and a non-conserved integral membrane protein responsible for substrate specificity (S-component) [ 2 ].

This entry represents the transmembrane component from a number of ECF transporters, including cobalt-specific transporter CbiQ, and nickel-specific transporter NikQ [ 3 ]. It also includes uncharacterised eukaryotic proteins.

1. Energy coupling factor-type ABC transporters for vitamin uptake in prokaryotes. Biochemistry 51, 4390-6
2. Quaternary structure and functional unit of energy coupling factor (ECF)-type transporters. J. Biol. Chem. 286, 5471-5
3. Comparative and functional genomic analysis of prokaryotic nickel and cobalt uptake transporters: evidence for a novel group of ATP-binding cassette transporters. J. Bacteriol. 188, 317-27