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    PLoS Biol. 2009 Mar 3;7(3):e47.

    Two separate interfaces between the voltage sensor and pore are required for the function of voltage-dependent K(+) channels.

    Lee SY, Banerjee A, MacKinnon R.

    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.

    Voltage-dependent K(+) (Kv) channels gate open in response to the membrane voltage. To further our understanding of how cell membrane voltage regulates the opening of a Kv channel, we have studied the protein interfaces that attach the voltage-sensor domains to the pore. In the crystal structure, three physical interfaces exist. Only two of these consist of amino acids that are co-evolved across the interface between voltage sensor and pore according to statistical coupling analysis of 360 Kv channel sequences. A first co-evolved interface is formed by the S4-S5 linkers (one from each of four voltage sensors), which form a cuff surrounding the S6-lined pore opening at the intracellular surface. The crystal structure and published mutational studies support the hypothesis that the S4-S5 linkers convert voltage-sensor motions directly into gate opening and closing. A second co-evolved interface forms a small contact surface between S1 of the voltage sensor and the pore helix near the extracellular surface. We demonstrate through mutagenesis that this interface is necessary for the function and/or structure of two different Kv channels. This second interface is well positioned to act as a second anchor point between the voltage sensor and the pore, thus allowing efficient transmission of conformational changes to the pore's gate.

    PMID: 19260762 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    PMCID: 2650729

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