Affiliation:
1. Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Biophysics, Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Abstract
Bio-Diodes
Inward rectifier potassium channels conduct K
+
ions into the cell at internal negative membrane voltages, but at internal positive membrane voltages they are blocked by intracellular multivalent ions. These channels control the resting membrane voltage and are required for the healthy function of many electrically excitable cells. Mutations can result in transient paralysis causing, for example, heart problems.
Tao
et al.
(p.
1668
) now report a 3.1 angstrom resolution structure of the inward rectifier, Kir2.2 from chicken, which has a similar structure to the human equivalent. The combination of observations of conductive and inhibitory ion binding sites with electrophysiological data finally explains the mechanism of action of these long-studied channels and reveals how they maintain their low sensitivity to toxins, as well as provides a basis for the design of therapeutic drugs.
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Reference69 articles.
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5. Potassium channel block by cytoplasmic polyamines as the mechanism of intrinsic rectification
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