The structure of a potassium-selective ion channel reveals a hydrophobic gate regulating ion permeation

Langan, Patricia S.; Vandavasi, Venu Gopal; Kopec, Wojciech; Sullivan, Brendan; Afonne, Pavel V.; Weiss, Kevin L.; de Groot, Bert L.; Coates, Leighton

doi:10.1107/S2052252520008271

The structure of a potassium-selective ion channel reveals a hydrophobic gate regulating ion permeation

Journal Article · Sat Jul 25 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · IUCrJ

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1107/S2052252520008271· OSTI ID:1643733

Langan, Patricia S.; ; Kopec, Wojciech; ; Afonne, Pavel V.; ; de Groot, Bert L.;

Protein dynamics are essential to function. One example of this is the various gating mechanisms within ion channels, which are transmembrane proteins that act as gateways into the cell. Typical ion channels switch between an open and closed state via a conformational transition which is often triggered by an external stimulus, such as ligand binding or pH and voltage differences. The atomic resolution structure of a potassium-selective ion channel named NaK2K has allowed us to observe that a hydrophobic residue at the bottom of the selectivity filter, Phe92, appears in dual conformations. One of the two conformations of Phe92 restricts the diameter of the exit pore around the selectivity filter, limiting ion flow through the channel, while the other conformation of Phe92 provides a larger-diameter exit pore from the selectivity filter. Thus, it can be concluded that Phe92 acts as a hydrophobic gate, regulating the flow of ions through the selectivity filter.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Institutes of Health (NIH); USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231; AC02-06CH11357; AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1643733

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1805030
OSTI ID: 1834817
OSTI ID: 1838537
OSTI ID: 1676384

Journal Information:: IUCrJ, Journal Name: IUCrJ Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 7; ISSN 2052-2525; ISSN IUCRAJ

Publisher:: International Union of CrystallographyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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gating
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The structure of a potassium-selective ion channel reveals a hydrophobic gate regulating ion permeation

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