Mechanisms of valence selectivity in biological ion channels |
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Authors: | B Corry S-H Chung |
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Institution: | (1) School of Biomedical and Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia;(2) Department of Theoretical Physics, Research School of Physical Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia |
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Abstract: | Transmembrane ion channels play a crucial role in the existence of all living organisms. They partition the exterior from
the interior of the cell, maintain the proper ionic gradient across the cell membrane and facilitate signaling between cells.
To perform these functions, ion channels must be highly selective, allowing some types of ions to pass while blocking the
passage of others. Here we review a number of studies that have helped to elucidate the mechanisms by which ion channels discriminate
between ions of differing charge, focusing on four channel families as examples: gramicidin, ClC chloride, voltage-gated calcium
and potassium channels. The recent availability of high-resolution structural data has meant that the specific inter-atomic
interactions responsible for valence selectivity can be pinpointed. Not surprisingly, electrostatic considerations have been
shown to play an important role in ion specificity, although many details of the origins of this discrimination remain to
be determined.
Received 4 September 2005; received after revision 17 October 2005; accepted 2 November 2005 |
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Keywords: | Ion channel selectivity permeation Brownian dynamics molecular dynamics gramicidin calcium channel ClC potassium channel |
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