Ion conduction and selectivity in K(+) channels.

Preferential binding of K+ ions in the selectivity filter at equilibrium explains high selectivity of K+ channels

K(+) channels exhibit strong selectivity for K(+) ions over Na(+) ions based on electrophysiology experiments that measure ions competing for passage through the channel. During this conduction process, multiple ions interact within the region of the channel called the selectivity filter. Ion selectivity may arise from an equilibrium preference for K(+) ions within the selectivity filter or fro...

Ion Conduction and Selectivity in K+ Channels

Tuning the ion selectivity of tetrameric cation channels by changing the number of ion binding sites.

Selective ion conduction across ion channel pores is central to cellular physiology. To understand the underlying principles of ion selectivity in tetrameric cation channels, we engineered a set of cation channel pores based on the nonselective NaK channel and determined their structures to high resolution. These structures showcase an ensemble of selectivity filters with a various number of co...

Kcsa

Ion conduction and selectivity properties of KcsA, a bacterial ion channel of known structure, were studied in a planar lipid bilayer system at the single-channel level. Selectivity sequences for permeant ions were determined by symmetrical solution conductance (K(+) > Rb(+), NH(4)(+), Tl(+) >> Cs(+), Na(+), Li(+)) and by reversal potentials under bi-ionic or mixed-ion conditions (Tl(+) > K(+) ...

Simulation study of the transport properties of ions through ion channels serving as primary components of a nanobiosensor

Ion channels are naturally occurring pores through the proteins that regulate the passage of ions and thus maintain the concentration of ions inside and outside the cell. The ion channels control many physiological functions and they can show selectivity for a specific ion. Ion channels are mostly observed in nerve cells and muscle cells. The influx of ions into cells can be regulated by a gate...

KcsA: It’s a Potassium Channel

Ion conduction and selectivity properties of KcsA, a bacterial ion channel of known structure, were studied in a planar lipid bilayer system at the single-channel level. Selectivity sequences for permeant ions were determined by symmetrical solution conductance (K Rb , NH 4 , Tl Cs , Na , Li ) and by reversal potentials under bi-ionic or mixed-ion conditions (Tl K Rb NH 4 Na , Li ). Determinati...