title: Voltage-gated channels formed in lipid bilayers by a positively charged segment of the Na-channel polypeptide.
abstract: The Na-channel polypeptide is responsible for the voltage-gated and time-dependent ionic permeability changes that give rise to the action potential in the membranes of nerve cells. We have synthesized a 22-amino acid peptide with a sequence identical to that of the segment named S4, repeat IV of the primary structure of the Na channel. We have found that this peptide induces a voltage- and time-dependent conductance in bilayers formed by a mixture of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. This conductance is activated when the cis side is made positive, with an apparent gating charge of 3. The results are consistent with the idea that this segment plays a role in determining the voltage sensitivity of the Na channel.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Membrane Transport, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Tosteson
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Auld
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Tosteson
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010455:Peptides; D015222:Sodium Channels