From Structure to Function in Open Ionic Channels

From Ionic Currents to Molecular Mechanisms The Structure and Function of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

tetrodotoxin binding activity and a protein of ‫072ف‬ kDa (Agnew et al., 1980). Subsequent purification studies showed that the sodium channel from mammalian brain is a complex of ␣ al., 1982), the tetrodotoxin-binding component of the sodium channel purified from eel electroplax is a single Voltage-gated sodium channels are responsible for the protein of 270 kDa (Miller et al., 1983), and the ...

From Ionic Currents to Molecular Review Mechanisms: The Structure and Function of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

Selectivity mechanisms in MscS-like channels: From structure to function.

The E. coli mechanosensitive (MS) channel of small conductance (EcMscS) is the prototype of a diverse family of channels present in all domains of life. While EcMscS has been extensively studied, recent developments show that MscS may display some characteristics not widely conserved in this protein subfamily. With numerous members now electrophysiologically characterized, this subfamily of cha...

Pentameric viral ion channels: from structure to function

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Relative dielectric constants and selectivity ratios in open ionic channels

We investigate the effects of the relative dielectric coefficient on ionic flows in open ion channels, using mathematical analysis of reasonably general Poisson-Nernst-Planck type models that can include the finite sizes of ions. The value of the relative dielectric coefficient is of course a crucial parameter for ionic behavior in general. Using the powerful theory of singularly perturbed prob...