Ammonia transporters (TC# 1.A.11) are structurally related membrane transport proteins called Amt proteins (ammonia transporters) in bacteria and plants, methylammonium/ammonium permeases (MEPs) in yeast, or Rhesus (Rh) proteins in chordates. In humans, the RhAG, RhBG, and RhCG Rhesus proteins constitute solute carrier family 42[2] whilst RhD and RhCE form the Rh blood group system. The three-dimensional structure of the ammonia transport protein AmtB from Escherichia coli has been determined by x-ray crystallography[3][4] revealing a hydrophobic ammonia channel.[5] The human RhCG ammonia transporter was found to have a similar ammonia-conducting channel structure.[1] It was proposed[citation needed] that the erythrocyte Rh complex is a heterotrimer of RhAG, RhD, and RhCE subunits in which RhD and RhCE might play roles in anchoring the ammonia-conducting RhAG subunit to the cytoskeleton. Based on reconstitution experiments, purified RhCG subunits alone can function to transport ammonia.[6] RhCG is required for normal acid excretion by the mouse kidney[7] and epididymis.[8]
^Khademi S, Stroud RM (Dec 2006). "The Amt/MEP/Rh family: structure of AmtB and the mechanism of ammonia gas conduction". Physiology. 21 (6): 419–29. doi:10.1152/physiol.00051.2005. PMID17119155.
^Biver S, Belge H, Bourgeois S, Van Vooren P, Nowik M, Scohy S, Houillier P, Szpirer J, Szpirer C, Wagner CA, Devuyst O, Marini AM (Nov 2008). "A role for Rhesus factor Rhcg in renal ammonium excretion and male fertility". Nature. 456 (7220): 339–43. Bibcode:2008Natur.456..339B. doi:10.1038/nature07518. PMID19020613. S2CID205215412.