title: Functional analysis of an archaebacterial voltage-dependent K+ channel.
abstract: All living organisms use ion channels to regulate the transport of ions across cellular membranes. Certain ion channels are classed as voltage-dependent because they have a voltage-sensing structure that induces their pores to open in response to changes in the cell membrane voltage. Until recently, the voltage-dependent K+, Ca2+ and Na+ channels were regarded as a unique development of eukaryotic cells, adapted to accomplish specialized electrical signalling, as exemplified in neurons. Here we present the functional characterization of a voltage-dependent K+ (K(V)) channel from a hyperthermophilic archaebacterium from an oceanic thermal vent. This channel possesses all the functional attributes of classical neuronal K(V) channels. The conservation of function reflects structural conservation in the voltage sensor as revealed by specific, high-affinity interactions with tarantula venom toxins, which evolved to inhibit eukaryotic K(V) channels.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Biophysics, Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruta
authors.forename: Youxing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jiayun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Roderick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: MacKinnon
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001105:Archaea / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects; D007564:Japan; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D013111:Spider Venoms; D014118:Toxins, Biological