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PQ loop repeat Members of this family are all membrane bound proteins possessing a pair of repeats each spanning two transmembrane helices connected by a loop. The PQ motif found on loop 2 is critical for the localization of cystinosin to lysosomes. However, the PQ motif appears not to be a general lysosome-targeting motif. It is thought likely to possess a more general function. Most probably this involves a glutamine residue. Family members are membrane transporters since two members, cystinosin and PQLC2, transport cystine and cationic amino acids, respectively, across the lysosomal membrane. The 2nd PQ-loop of cystinosin hosts the substrate-coupled H+ binding site underlying its H+ symport mechanism, suggesting that PQ-loop repeats have functional significance. It is thus likely that PQ-loop-containing proteins act as a family of membrane transporters. Some transport cystine and cationic amino acids, respectively, across the lysosomal membrane. Others transport lysine and or arginine across the lysosomal membrane in order to maintain the acidic homoeostasis. |
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",