The bacterial K+ channel structure and its implications for neuronal channels.
Voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels play a central role in generating action potentials and rhythmic patterns, as well as in dendritic signal processing in neurons. Recently, the first structure of a member of the K+ channel family was solved. Although this channel is from bacteria and has a streamlined body plan with no voltage gating, it establishes the architecture of the functional core of the voltage-gated (K+) channels and their relatives. This architecture explains the crucial features of ion permeation and blockade, and gives some strong hints about gating. The bacterial K+ channel structure is the central piece in a puzzle; it remains to be seen how it will fit together with other domains of the Kv channels, with auxiliary subunits, and with other signal transduction molecules.
Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA. gary_yellen@hms.harvard.edu
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D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015221:Potassium Channels