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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dspace.utalca.cl/handle/1950/4647

Title: Role of the electrostatic potential on the BK potassium channel conductance
Authors: González-Nilo, F.
Gonzalez, W.
Brauchi, S.
Orio, P.
Carvacho, I.
Rosenmann, E.
Zaelzer, C.
Latorre, R.
Issue Date: Jan-2005
Publisher: Rockefeller Institute Press
Citation: Biophysical Journal 88 (1): 98A-98A Part 2 Suppl. S.
Abstract: The family of K channels presents a highly conserved structural motif (TVGYG), known as the selectivity filter. Despite the fact that the selectivity filter is conserved in all K channels, they show different conductances. We observed that the number of negative charged aminoacids in the outer vestibule of BK (high conductance), KvAP (medium conductance) and Shaker (low conductance) K channels, is proportional to the conductance of each channel. In particular, BK channel has a loop bearing two charged aminoacids in the outer vestibule. These negative charges would increase the local K ion concentration in the outer vestibule of the pore, diminishing the required energy to access the selectivity filter. To verify experimentally this hypothesis a series of BK channel mutants were constructed and the single channel conductances were measured. In agreement with our predictions, the removal of the loop charges (D261N/E264Q) leads to a reduced inward conductance. Deleting the outer loop does not affect inward conductance unless another charge is removed (Δloop/E276Q). This suggests that E276 can compensate the electrostatic contribution of the loop charges when the loop is deleted. The results are in agreement with electrostatic potential calculations (Poisson-Boltzmann) carried out on a molecular model of the BK channel pore. In conclusion, we have identified residues involved in the electrostatic tuning of the BK channel inward conductance. Acknowledgment: FONDECYT 1040254 (FG) and 1030830 (RL). Fundación Andes (FG)
Description: Fernando D. Gonzalez-Nilo and Wendy Gonzalez. Centro de Bioinformatica, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile.
URI: http://dspace.utalca.cl/handle/1950/4647
ISSN: 0006-3495
Appears in Collections:Artículos en publicaciones ISI - Universidad de Talca

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