Ion conduction pore is conserved among potassium channels

Zhe Lu (), Angela M. Klem and Yajamana Ramu
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Zhe Lu: University of Pennsylvania
Angela M. Klem: University of Pennsylvania
Yajamana Ramu: University of Pennsylvania

Nature, 2001, vol. 413, issue 6858, 809-813

Abstract: Abstract Potassium channels, a group of specialized membrane proteins, enable K+ ions to flow selectively across cell membranes. Transmembrane K+ currents underlie electrical signalling in neurons and other excitable cells. The atomic structure of a bacterial K+ channel pore has been solved by means of X-ray crystallography. To the extent that the prokaryotic pore is representative of other K+ channels, this landmark achievement has profound implications for our general understanding of K+ channels. But serious doubts have been raised concerning whether the prokaryotic K+ channel pore does actually represent those of eukaryotes. Here we have addressed this fundamental issue by substituting the prokaryotic pore into eukaryotic voltage-gated and inward-rectifier K+ channels. The resulting chimaeras retain the respective functional hallmarks of the eukaryotic channels, which indicates that the ion conduction pore is indeed conserved among K+ channels.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35101535

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