Maltoporin has been studied for over 50 years. This trimeric bacterial outer membrane channel allows permeation of sugars such as maltodextrins. Its structure is described and functional studies resulting in a mechanistic transport model are critically discussed.
Department of Molecular and Cellular Interactions, Free University of Brussels and Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.