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Sci. Signal., 6 April 2010
Vol. 3, Issue 116, p. ec105
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.3116ec105]

EDITORS' CHOICE

Channels Open and Closed Case

Valda Vinson

Science, AAAS, Washington, DC 20005, USA

Voltage-dependent ion channels are gated by voltage sensors that show a switchlike response to voltage differences across the membrane. Tao et al. used mutagenesis, electrophysiology, and x-ray crystallography to gain insight into the molecular basis of this response in voltage-dependent potassium channels. An occluded site was identified that catalyzes translation of positive charges across the membrane. The closed channel appears to be associated with a distribution of conformations, depending on the degree of hyperpolarization of the membrane, whereas the open channel appears to be associated with a specific conformation. Thus, the transition of the ion channel from open to closed occurs over a very small voltage difference.

X. Tao, A. Lee, W. Limapichat, D. A. Dougherty, R. MacKinnon, A gating charge transfer center in voltage sensors. Science 328, 67–73 (2010). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: V. Vinson, Open and Closed Case. Sci. Signal. 3, ec105 (2010).

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