This family contains a number of integral membrane proteins that also contains the TerC protein. TerC has been implicated in resistance to tellurium. This protein may be involved in efflux of tellurium ions. The tellurite-resistant Escherichia coli strain KL53 was found during testing of the group of clinical isolates for antibiotics and heavy metal ion resistance [2]. Determinant of the tellurite resistance of the strain was located on a large conjugative plasmid. Analyses showed, the genes terB, terC, terD and terE are essential for conservation of the resistance. The members of the family contain a number of conserved aspartates that could be involved in binding to metal ions.

1: DNA sequence analysis of the tellurite-resistance determinant from clinical strain of Escherichia coli and identification of essential genes. Kormutakova R, Klucar L, Turna J; Biometals 2000;13:135-139. PMID:11016400

2: In vivo and in vitro cloning and phenotype characterization of tellurite resistance determinant conferred by plasmid pTE53 of a clinical isolate of Escherichia coli. Burian J, Tu N, Kl'ucar L, Guller L, Lloyd-Jones G, Stuchlik S, Fejdi P, Siekel P, Turna J; Folia Microbiol (Praha) 1998;43:589-599. PMID:10069007