VPS13 forms a channel for lipid transport. (A) The density map for VPS13_1-1390 (contoured at 4.55 signal/noise), which resembles a twisted gathering basket. The “basket” is colored light blue and yellow, with yellow corresponding to the portion of C. thermophilum VPS13 previously crystallized (Protein Data Bank accession no. 6CBC; residues 1–335). Helices comprising the “handle” are green, except for two helices from 6CBC (yellow). (B) Secondary structure is indicated. Red asterisks mark helices positionally adjusted with respect to 6CBC to form part of the “handle.” For functional assays, mutations were introduced to render bands within the VPS13_1-1390 channel hydrophilic and unable to bind lipids. The bands are indicated in yellow (mut1) and blue (mut2) shading and arrows. (C) Density map colored by local resolution. In A–C, bottom: VPS13_1-1390 rotated by 90° with respect to VPS13_1-1390 in A–C, top. Top: The view is into the basket interior at the VPS13 N-terminal end. Bottom: The view is into the interior of the basket at its C-terminal end. (See also Video 1.)