X-ray structure of a voltage-dependent K+ channel

Youxing Jiang, Alice Lee, Jiayun Chen, Vanessa Ruta, Martine Cadene, Brian T. Chait and Roderick MacKinnon ()
Additional contact information
Youxing Jiang: Rockefeller University
Alice Lee: Rockefeller University
Jiayun Chen: Rockefeller University
Vanessa Ruta: Rockefeller University
Martine Cadene: Rockefeller University
Brian T. Chait: Rockefeller University
Roderick MacKinnon: Rockefeller University

Nature, 2003, vol. 423, issue 6935, 33-41

Abstract: Abstract Voltage-dependent K+ channels are members of the family of voltage-dependent cation (K+, Na+ and Ca2+) channels that open and allow ion conduction in response to changes in cell membrane voltage. This form of gating underlies the generation of nerve and muscle action potentials, among other processes. Here we present the structure of KvAP, a voltage-dependent K+ channel from Aeropyrum pernix. We have determined a crystal structure of the full-length channel at a resolution of 3.2 Å, and of the isolated voltage-sensor domain at 1.9 Å, both in complex with monoclonal Fab fragments. The channel contains a central ion-conduction pore surrounded by voltage sensors, which form what we call ‘voltage-sensor paddles’—hydrophobic, cationic, helix–turn–helix structures on the channel's outer perimeter. Flexible hinges suggest that the voltage-sensor paddles move in response to membrane voltage changes, carrying their positive charge across the membrane.

Date: 2003
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature01580 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:423:y:2003:i:6935:d:10.1038_nature01580

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/

DOI: 10.1038/nature01580

Access Statistics for this article

Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper

More articles in Nature from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().