3.A.14 The Fimbrilin/Protein Exporter (FPE) Family
Each of the protein exporters in the FPE family consists of two constituents, an integral membrane protein having 320-420 amino acyl residues and 3 putative TMSs, and an ATPase localized to the cytoplasmic side of the membrane and having 350-570 amino acyl residues and Walker ATP binding motifs. These proteins are believed to function together in the ATP-hydrolysis-dependent export of proteins across the cytoplasmic membranes of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Some of these proteins are homologous to proteins required for export of substrate proteins across the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria via the main terminal branch (TC #3.A.15). Briley et al. (2011) have shown that the secretion ATPase ComGA is required for the binding and transport of transforming DNA.
The generalized transport reaction believed to be catalyzed by FPE systems is:
Protein (in) + ATP → Protein (out) + ADP + Pi