The SLC26/SulP (solute carrier/sulfate transporter) proteins are a superfamily of anion transporters conserved from bacteria to man, of which four have been identified in human diseases. Proteins within the SLC26/SulP family exhibit a wide variety of functions, transporting anions from halides to carboxylic acids. The proteins comprise a transmembrane domain containing between 10 -12 transmembrane helices followed a by C-terminal cytoplasmic sulfate transporter and anti-sigma factor antagonist (STAS) domain. These proteins are expected to undergo conformational changes during the transport cycle; however, structural information for this family remains sparse, particularly for the full-length proteins. To address this issue, we conducted an expression and detergent screen on bacterial Slc26 proteins. The screen identified a Yersinia enterocolitica Slc26A protein as the ideal candidate for further structural studies as it can be purified to homogeneity. Partial proteolysis, co-purification, and analytical size exclusion chromatography demonstrate that the protein purifies as stable oligomers. Using small angle neutron scattering combined with contrast variation, we have determined the first low resolution structure of a bacterial Slc26 protein without spectral contribution from the detergent. The structure confirms that the protein forms a dimer stabilized via its transmembrane core; the cytoplasmic STAS domain projects away from the transmembrane domain and is not involved in dimerization. Supported by additional biochemical data, the structure suggests that large movements of the STAS domain underlie the conformational changes that occur during transport.The SLC26/SulP 4 proteins are a superfamily of anion transporters conserved from bacteria to man (1). The human genome encodes at least 10 SLC26 proteins that play critical roles in cell physiology and are medically important, being implicated in genetic diseases such as diastrophic dysplasia, congenital chloride diarrhea, Pendred syndrome, and nonsyndromic deafness (2, 3). Proteins within the SLC26/SulP family exhibit a wide variety of functions, transporting anions ranging from halides to carboxylic acids. The molecular basis for this diversity, however, is poorly understood and structural information is extremely limited. A model of the transmembrane region containing 12 transmembrane helices has been published for the Synechococcus Slc26 protein BicA, and it has been proposed that this topology may apply across the family (4). A conserved stoichiometry within the family is the subject of debate as several members, across multiple species, have been reported to form dimers and/or tetramers (5-7). The only high resolution structural data available to date is for the cytoplasmic sulfate transporter and anti-sigma factor antagonist (STAS) domain, which is fused to the C terminus of the transmembrane domain (8 -10).SLC26 transporters must undergo sequential conformational changes during the transport cycle as typified by prestin (SLC26A5), the cochlear protein th...