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Prestin is the motor protein responsible for the somatic electromotility of cochlear outer hair cells and is essential for normal hearing sensitivity and frequency selectivity of mammals. Prestin is a member of mammalian solute-linked carrier 26 (SLC26) anion exchangers, a family of membrane proteins capable of transporting a wide variety of monovalent and divalent anions. SLC26 transporters play important roles in normal human physiology in different tissues, and many of them are involved in genetic diseases. SLC26 and related SulP transporters carry a hydrophobic membrane core and a C-terminal cytosolic portion that is essential in plasma membrane targeting and protein function. This C-terminal portion is mainly composed of a STAS (sulfate transporters and anti-sigma factor antagonist) domain, whose name is due to a remote but significant sequence similarity with bacterial ASA (anti-sigma factor antagonist) proteins. Here we present the crystal structure at 1.57 A resolution of the cytosolic portion of prestin, the first structure of a SulP transporter STAS domain, and its characterization in solution by heteronuclear multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. Prestin STAS significantly deviates from the related bacterial ASA proteins, especially in the N-terminal region, which-although previously considered merely as a generic linker between the domain and the last transmembrane helix-is indeed fully part of the domain. Hence, unexpectedly, our data reveal that the STAS domain starts immediately after the last transmembrane segment and lies beneath the lipid bilayer. A structure-function analysis suggests that this model can be a general template for most SLC26 and SulP anion transporters and supports the notion that STAS domains are involved in functionally important intramolecular and intermolecular interactions. Mapping of disease-associated or functionally harmful mutations on STAS structure indicates that they can be divided into two categories: those causing significant misfolding of the domain and those altering its interaction properties.

Asymmetric cell divisions regulate the position and the fate choice of daughter cells, with impact on developmental programs and tissue homeostasis. The asymmetric outcome of a stem cell division relies on the coordination between cortical polarity and the orientation of the mitotic spindle. To date the adaptor Inscuteable (Insc) is considered the molecular bridge between cortical polarity proteins and the spindle tethering machinery assembled on NuMA:LGN:Gαi. Insc interacts with the polarity protein Par3, and competes with NuMA for the binding to LGN [1]. I will present the crystallographic structure of Drosophila LGN in complex with the asymmetric domain of Insc. The structure reveals a tetrameric arrangement of intertwined molecules, and is compatible with the concomitant binding of Insc to LGN and Par3. Binding assays indicate that Insc interacts directly with the PDZ region of Par3. The finding that LGN enters a stable tetrameric complex with Insc and Par3 suggests a novel function for LGN in stabilizing the apical site, where polarity proteins enrich during asymmetric cell divisions. I will propose a revised model for mitotic spindle coupling to polarity cues based on the dual role of LGN in organizing microtubule motors when in complex with NuMA and Dynein, and securing their cortical attachment when bound to Insc and Par3.