title: Sodium channel structure-function relations.
abstract: The arguments presented here cannot be made sufficiently precise to place clear limits on models of sodium channel function, but they do raise questions about the validity of simplest interpretations made so far. Thus, simple identification of a motion of each of the four S4 segments with a separate kinetic step in the sequence that leads to channel opening seems unlikely to be correct. As more detailed structural and functional information becomes available, attempts to relate structure and function in a quantitative way should indicate which features of the models are least in accord with data, and will help in deciding which among the various models that will arise is most satisfactory.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004524:Eels; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009038:Motion; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012964:Sodium