Membrane Exporters of Fluoride Ion

Microorganisms contend with numerous and unusual chemical threats and have evolved a catalog of resistance mechanisms in response. One particularly ancient, pernicious threat is posed by fluoride ion (F-), a common xenobiotic in natural environments that causes broad-spectrum harm to metabolic pathways. This review focuses on advances in the last ten years toward understanding the microbial response to cytoplasmic accumulation of F-, with a special emphasis on the structure and mechanisms of the proteins that microbes use to export fluoride: the CLCF family of F-/H+ antiporters and the Fluc/FEX family of F- channels.

Automated summary

This review examines the microbial response to cytoplasmic accumulation of fluoride ions, specifically focusing on the structure and mechanisms of the CLCF family of F-/H+ antiporters and the Fluc/FEX family of F- channels. The research highlights advances made in the last decade towards understanding how microbes combat the toxic effects of fluoride ions.