A Zn(II)-translocating P-type ATPase from Proteus mirabilis

A mutant of Proteus mirabilis had been previously isolated as defective in swarming. The mutation had been found to be in a gene related to the Escher ichia coli zntA gene, which encodes the ZntA Zn(II)-translocating P-type AT Pase. In this study the P. mirabilis gene was expressed in an E. coli strai n in which the zntA gene had been disrupted. The P. mirabilis gene compleme nted the sensitivity to salts of zinc and cadmium. Everted membrane vesicle s from the zntA-disrupted strain lost ATP-driven Zn-65(II) uptake. Membrane s from the complemented strain had restored Zn-65(II) transport. These resu lts demonstrate that the P. mirabilis homologue of ZntA is a Zn(II)-translo cating P-type ATPase.