title: Molecular basis for function in sodium channels.
abstract: Na+ channels earned their unique role in excitable cells because of two functional properties, finely honed by evolution. The first is their exquisite sensitivity to small changes of membrane potential: a depolarization of only 10 mV can increase open probability by as much as two orders of magnitude. The second is the rapidity with which they respond to changes of membrane potential: their gates begin to open tens of microseconds after a depolarization. These features are built into two sets of moving parts: voltage sensors that respond directly to changes of membrane potential, and gates that open and close in response to voltage sensor movement. We have explored these movements using a combination of electrophysiology, site-directed mutagenesis, cysteine accessibility scanning and photoactivated cross-linking using a bifunctional cysteine reagent. The main voltage sensors of Na+ channels are four homologous S4 segments, each of which has a unique functional role. These transmembrane segments are almost completely surrounded by hydrophilic crevices. The membrane electric field moves these positively charged helices through a short, hydrophobic 'gating pore'. The minimum contact between an S4 segment and its gating pore insure that a small movement can rapidly move several of its charged residues across the electric field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Hyperexcitability, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Horn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D015222:Sodium Channels