A subclass of bacterial CLC anion-transporting proteins, phylogenetically distant from long-studied CLCs, was recently shown to be specifically up-regulated by F-. We establish here that a set of randomly selected representatives from this “CLCF” clade protect Escherichia coli from F- toxicity, and that the purified proteins catalyze transport of F- in liposomes. Sequence alignments and membrane transport experiments using 19F NMR, osmotic response assays, and planar lipid bilayer recordings reveal four mechanistic traits that set CLCF proteins apart from all other known CLCs. First, CLCFs lack conserved residues that form the anion binding site in canonical CLCs. Second, CLCFs exhibit high anion selectivity for F- over Cl-. Third, at a residue thought to distinguish CLC channels and transporters, CLCFs bear a channel-like valine rather than a transporter-like glutamate, and yet are F-/H+ antiporters. Finally, F-/H+ exchange occurs with 1∶1 stoichiometry, in contrast to the usual value of 2∶1.

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CLC-ec1, a bacterial homologue of the CLC family’s transporter subclass, catalyzes transmembrane exchange of Cl− and H+. Mutational analysis based on the known structure reveals several key residues required for coupling H+ to the stoichiometric countermovement of Cl−. E148 (Gluex) transfers protons between extracellular water and the protein interior, and E203 (Gluin) is thought to function analogously on the intracellular face of the protein. Mutation of either residue eliminates H+ transport while preserving Cl− transport. We tested the role of Gluin by examining structural and functional properties of mutants at this position. Certain dissociable side chains (E, D, H, K, R, but not C and Y) retain H+/Cl− exchanger activity to varying degrees, while other mutations (V, I, or C) abolish H+ coupling and severely inhibit Cl− flux. Transporters substituted with other nonprotonatable side chains (Q, S, and A) show highly impaired H+ transport with substantial Cl− transport. Influence on H+ transport of side chain length and acidity was assessed using a single-cysteine mutant to introduce non-natural side chains. Crystal structures of both coupled (E203H) and uncoupled (E203V) mutants are similar to wild type. The results support the idea that Gluin is the internal proton-transfer residue that delivers protons from intracellular solution to the protein interior, where they couple to Cl− movements to bring about Cl−/H+ exchange.