K. A. Henzler-Wildman

This paper investigates PAsmr, an SMR transporter in P. aeruginosa, showing it can confer both resistance and susceptibility to antimicrobial compounds through proton leak mechanisms.

The paper tests whether functional promiscuity of SMR transporters extends to homologs from three pathogens, finding they can confer resistance or susceptibility to different substrates in E. coli.

The paper tests whether charge neutralization of glutamates limits EmrE's substrate binding and transport, finding it does not.

The paper shows that the E. coli SMR transporter EmrE can confer susceptibility to small-molecule substrates like harmane by triggering proton uniport, leading to antibiotic synergy.

The paper functionally characterizes EmrE-like SMR transporters from Staphylococcus aureus and Francisella tularensis, showing they are functionally similar to EmrE and distinct from GdX-like SMRs.

The paper develops a new method using solid supported membrane electrophysiology to measure transport stoichiometry, verifying a 2:1 proton:guanidinium antiporter stoichiometry for Gdx.

This paper shows EmrE, a multidrug resistance transporter, uses a new kinetically-driven free exchange mechanism that allows promiscuous drug and proton transport, sacrificing coupling efficiency for speed and specificity.