3gb7
Potassium Channel KcsA-Fab complex in Li+
Structural highlights
FunctionKCSA_STRLI Acts as a pH-gated potassium ion channel; changing the cytosolic pH from 7 to 4 opens the channel, although it is not clear if this is the physiological stimulus for channel opening. Monovalent cation preference is K(+) > Rb(+) > NH4(+) >> Na(+) > Li(+).[1] Evolutionary Conservation Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf. Publication Abstract from PubMedPotassium channels allow K(+) ions to diffuse through their pores while preventing smaller Na(+) ions from permeating. Discrimination between these similar, abundant ions enables these proteins to control electrical and chemical activity in all organisms. Selection occurs at the narrow selectivity filter containing structurally identified K(+) binding sites. Selectivity is thought to arise because smaller ions such as Na(+) do not bind to these K(+) sites in a thermodynamically favorable way. Using the model K(+) channel KcsA, we examined how intracellular Na(+) and Li(+) interact with the pore and the permeant ions using electrophysiology, molecular dynamics simulations and X-ray crystallography. Our results suggest that these small cations have a separate binding site within the K(+) selectivity filter. We propose that selective permeation from the intracellular side primarily results from a large energy barrier blocking filter entry for Na(+) and Li(+) in the presence of K(+), not from a difference of binding affinity between ions. Mechanism of potassium-channel selectivity revealed by Na(+) and Li(+) binding sites within the KcsA pore.,Thompson AN, Kim I, Panosian TD, Iverson TM, Allen TW, Nimigean CM Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2009 Dec;16(12):1317-24. Epub 2009 Nov 29. PMID:19946269[2] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. See AlsoReferences
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