Membrane lipids and transporter function.

Transport proteins are essential for cells in allowing the exchange of substances between cells and their environment across the lipid bilayer forming a tight barrier. Membrane lipids modulate the function of transmembrane proteins such as transporters in two ways: Lipids are tightly and specifically bound to transport proteins and in addition they modulate from the bulk of the lipid bilayer the function of transport proteins. This overview summarizes currently available information at the ultrastructural level on lipids tightly bound to transport proteins and the impact of altered bulk membrane lipid composition. Human diseases leading to altered lipid homeostasis will lead to altered membrane lipid composition, which in turn affect the function of transporter proteins. • Transport proteins are key in allowing the passage of solutes across tight cellular lipid membrane barriers. • The activity of transport proteins is modulated among others by membrane lipids. • Membrane lipids modulate the activity of transport proteins by annular (lipids tightly bound to transporters) or membrane bulk lipids. • Cryo-EM technology yields a rapidly expanding list of transport protein structures with information on annular lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]