Electrostatics studies and molecular dynamics simulations of a homology model of the Shaker K+ channel pore.

Journal article

A homology model of the pore domain of the Shaker K+ channel has been constructed using a bacterial K+ channel, KcsA, as a template structure. The model is in agreement with mutagenesis and sequence variability data. A number of structural features are conserved between the two channels, including a ring of tryptophan sidechains on the outer surface of the pore domain at the extracellular end of the helix bundle, and rings of acidic sidechains close to the extracellular mouth of the channel. One of these rings, that formed by four Asp447 sidechains at the mouth of the Shaker pore, is shown by pK(A) calculations to be incompletely ionized at neutral pH. The potential energy profile for a K+ ion moved along the central axis of the Shaker pore domain model selectivity filter reveals a shallow well, the depth of which is modulated by the ionization state of the Asp447 ring. This is more consistent with the high cation flux exhibited by the channel in its conductance value of 19 pS.

Authors: Ranatunga, K; Law, R; Smith, G; Sansom, MS

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: European biophysics journal : EBJ
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 295-303
• Publication date: 2001-08-01
• DOI: 10.1007/s002490100134
• EISSN: 1432-1017
• ISSN: 0175-7571
• Language: English
• Keywords: Models, Molecular; Potassium Channels; Drosophila Proteins; Shaker Superfamily of Potassium Channels; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Biophysics; Molecular Sequence Data; Animals; Thermodynamics; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Drosophila melanogaster; Static Electricity; Biophysical Phenomena; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Amino Acid Sequence; Streptomyces; Bacterial Proteins