J. D. del Mármol

Structural basis for nutrient-activated channel opening in bacterial spore germination receptors

GerA-family germinant receptors were recently identified as ion channels that initiate germination of dormant bacterial spores in response to nutrients. Here we report 2.0-Å cryo-electron microscopy structures of apo, agonist-bound, and antagonist-bound GerA, revealing a symmetric pentamer of heterotrimers. Signaling r...