Mutations affecting TEA blockade and ion permeation in voltage-activated K+ channels.
Voltage-dependent ion channels are responsible for electrical signaling in neurons and other cells. The main classes of voltage-dependent channels (sodium-, calcium-, and potassium-selective channels) have closely related molecular structures. For one member of this superfamily, the transiently voltage-activated Shaker H4 potassium channel, specific amino acid residues have now been identified that affect channel blockade by the small ion tetraethylammonium, as well as the conduction of ions through the pore. Furthermore, variation at one of these amino acid positions among naturally occurring potassium channels may account for most of their differences in sensitivity to tetraethylammonium.
MacKinnon
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Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
Yellen
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D015221:Potassium Channels; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D019789:Tetraethylammonium