Ion permeation through neuronal nAChR ion channel

Ion permeation through neuronal nAChR ion channel

Alzheimer’s dementia is related to loss of inter-neuron communication by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) at post synaptic neurons, and successful therapy approaches rely e.g. on modulations of response signals initiated by ion flux through the receptor integrated ion channel. We have evaluated Umbrella Sampling (US) and Steered Molecular Dynamics (SMD) pulling for calculation of the p...

Potential of Mean Force of Ion Permeation through alpha7 nAChR Ion Channel

Many neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer’s dementia are related to a loss of inter-neuron communication. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) plays a crucial role in this process and is severely affected upon disease progression. Successful therapy approaches rely on modulation of response signals, initiated by the flux of ions through the receptor integrated ion channel at the post-syn...

Computational observation of an ion permeation through a channel protein.

The ion permeation process, driven by a membrane potential through an outer membrane protein, OmpF porin of Escherichia coli, was simulated by molecular dynamics. A Na+ ion, initially placed in the solvent region at the outer side of the porin channel, moved along the electric field passing through the porin channel in a 1.3 nsec simulation; the permeation rate was consistent with the experimen...

Perspectives on Ion Permeation

A multi-ion permeation mechanism in neuronal background chloride channels

Unitary current/voltage relationships of background Cl channels of rat hippocampal neurons were determined for varied gradients and absolute concentrations of NaCl. The channels revealed permeabilities for both Cl and Na ions. A hyperlinear increase of unitary conductance, observed for a symmetrical increase of salt concentration from 300 and 600 mM, indicated a multi-ion permeation mechanism. ...