In a groundbreaking advance more than three decades in the making, recent research has definitively illuminated the pathway by which adenosine triphosphate (ATP) enters the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). While it was known since the 1980s that ATP could be transported into crude ER microsomes with micromolar affinity, the molecular identity of the transporter facilitating this essential process remained elusive. Now, a combination of genetic, biochemical, and structural investigations has revealed human SLC35B1 as the critical conduit for ATP import into the ER lumen. This discovery reshapes our understanding of intracellular nucleotide trafficking and sets the stage for new explorations in ER-associated metabolism and stress response.
Unlike canonical nucleotide sugar transporters (NSTs), which shuttle glycosylation substrates into organelles such as the Golgi, SLC35B1 demonstrates a distinct substrate specificity and mechanistic profile. Although SLC35B1 shares approximately 30% sequence identity with its closest relative, SLC35B2—a transporter known to import 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate into the Golgi—the functions diverge meaningfully. Importantly, biochemical assays have confirmed that SLC35B1 robustly transports ADP and ATP, underscoring its unique role in fueling the ER’s ATP-dependent processes.
The physiological relevance of this transport mechanism cannot be overstated. The ER, as a central hub for protein folding, post-translational modification, and quality control, demands a continuous supply of ATP. The identification of SLC35B1 as the transporter that mediates ATP supply highlights a crucial regulatory node in maintaining ER homeostasis, particularly under conditions of cellular stress when the energy demand surges. This discovery provides a vital piece in the puzzle of how energy metabolism integrates with intracellular trafficking and stress adaptation.
Structurally, SLC35B1 deviates from previously characterized NSTs by exhibiting a narrower and more positively charged substrate cavity on both the luminal and cytoplasmic sides. This adaptation is consistent with the highly negative charge of ATP molecules and reflects how the transporter’s architecture is finely tuned to attract and stabilize such amphipathic substrates. Remarkably, structural analyses reveal that both ADP and the ATP analogue AMP–PNP adopt an unconventional bent conformation within the cytoplasmic-facing cavity. This spatial arrangement diverges from the more open, polar accommodations typical of nucleotide sugar transporters.
This bent conformation poses an intriguing mechanistic challenge: the partial insertion of ATP deep into the cavity restricts the protein’s conformational flexibility. Traditional rocker-switch models for substrate translocation, in which the transporter oscillates smoothly around the substrate, cannot fully explain the dynamics observed in SLC35B1. Instead, the transporter appears to have evolved a highly specialized strategy that incorporates stepwise repositioning of the nucleotide, effectively overcoming spatial constraints while ensuring fidelity and efficiency in transport.
Central to the unique transport mechanism is the differential engagement of the adenine moiety and phosphate groups of ATP with distinct regions within the transporter. The adenine base, characterized by hydrophobicity, initially nests within a hydrophobic patch inside the substrate cavity. This interaction favors repositioning and conformational plasticity as gating helices—specifically transmembrane helices 8 and 9 (TM8–TM9)—close to facilitate substrate translocation. This hydrophobic anchoring contrasts with classical polar substrate binding and may underlie SLC35B1’s relaxed specificity against other nucleotides, a trait potentially tolerable given the high cytoplasmic concentrations of ATP relative to other nucleotides.
The stepwise translocation model further involves a pronounced vertical displacement of the ATP molecule—approximately 6.5 angstroms—enabled by conformational shifts in gating helices. TM9, in particular, undergoes a large rigid-body movement pivoting around an arginine residue (R276) critical for coordinating the α-phosphate of ATP. Concurrently, flexible lysine residues on TM4a and TM4b dynamically adjust to maintain electrostatic interactions with the nucleotide. This coordinated choreography allows SLC35B1 to drive nucleotides across the ER membrane in a controlled, sequential manner.
Importantly, the luminal-facing conformation of SLC35B1 reveals further refined positioning of nucleotides. Here, AMP–PNP and ADP settle into a more canonical binding site at the cavity’s base, suggesting that the return phase of the transport cycle requires nucleotide flipping and repositioning. Electrostatics appear to govern substrate entry from the luminal side, favoring initial phosphate binding that subsequently rearranges to engage the nucleobase. The juxtaposition of hydrophobic surfaces within the luminal cavity facilitates movement of the adenine moiety, supporting the notion of complex intermediate states throughout the transport cycle.
This sophisticated mechanism draws parallels with the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier SLC25A4, which is also hypothesized to employ a stepwise translocation strategy for nucleotide movement, despite differences in substrate range and structural fold. These convergences hint at overarching principles governing the transport of amphipathic molecules across membranes, where multiple intermediate binding poses permit controlled solute passage while accommodating molecular complexity.
From a broader perspective, the identification of SLC35B1 as the gatekeeper for ATP entry into the ER opens compelling questions about the regulation of nucleotide supply during fluctuations in cellular energy status. Given the metabolic nexus between mitochondria—the principal site of ATP production—and the ER, elucidating potential feedback mechanisms controlling SLC35B1 activity represents a promising avenue for future research. Such regulatory insight could clarify how cells orchestrate energy distribution amidst diverse physiological demands and pathophysiological states.
Furthermore, since ATP-dependent chaperones and folding enzymes within the ER critically depend on a reliable ATP reservoir, the functional integrity of SLC35B1 likely influences proteostasis and the unfolded protein response. Dysregulation or mutations in this transporter could contribute to ER stress-related diseases, including metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative conditions, positioning SLC35B1 as a putative therapeutic target.
Methodologically, these findings exemplify the power of integrating cryo-electron microscopy with biochemical kinetics and genetic perturbation to dissect membrane transporter function at atomic resolution. Visualizing nucleotide-binding conformations and gating helix rearrangements in multiple transport states has been pivotal in constructing a dynamic mechanistic model that reconciles structure with function. Such comprehensive strategies herald a new era of transporter biology capable of unraveling the nuances of intracellular metabolite flux.
In summation, the elucidation of human SLC35B1 as a stepwise ATP translocator into the ER represents a landmark in membrane transport research. This work not only advances the fundamental biochemical understanding of nucleotide trafficking but also enriches our grasp of cellular energy economies and organelle interplay. The mechanistic revelations and physiological implications emerging from these discoveries will undoubtedly inspire further explorations into the intricacies of membrane transport and its impact on cellular health and disease.
Subject of Research: ATP translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum mediated by the human SLC35B1 transporter.
Article Title: Stepwise ATP translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum by human SLC35B1.
Article References:
Gulati, A., Ahn, D.H., Suades, A. et al. Stepwise ATP translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum by human SLC35B1. Nature (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09069-w
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Tags: adenosine triphosphate import mechanismATP transport into endoplasmic reticulumbiochemical assays for transporter functionER-associated metabolismintracellular nucleotide traffickingmolecular identity of ATP transportersnucleotide sugar transporters comparisonphysiological relevance of ER ATP supplypost-translational modification processesprotein folding in endoplasmic reticulumSLC35B1 transporter functionstress response in cells