title: Structure of acid-sensing ion channel 1 at 1.9 A resolution and low pH.
abstract: Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are voltage-independent, proton-activated receptors that belong to the epithelial sodium channel/degenerin family of ion channels and are implicated in perception of pain, ischaemic stroke, mechanosensation, learning and memory. Here we report the low-pH crystal structure of a chicken ASIC1 deletion mutant at 1.9 A resolution. Each subunit of the chalice-shaped homotrimer is composed of short amino and carboxy termini, two transmembrane helices, a bound chloride ion and a disulphide-rich, multidomain extracellular region enriched in acidic residues and carboxyl-carboxylate pairs within 3 A, suggesting that at least one carboxyl group bears a proton. Electrophysiological studies on aspartate-to-asparagine mutants confirm that these carboxyl-carboxylate pairs participate in proton sensing. Between the acidic residues and the transmembrane pore lies a disulphide-rich 'thumb' domain poised to couple the binding of protons to the opening of the ion channel, thus demonstrating that proton activation involves long-range conformational changes.
authors: Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA.
authors: Jayasankar
authors: J
authors: Jasti
authors: Hiroyasu
authors: H
authors: Furukawa
authors: Eric B
authors: EB
authors: Gonzales
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Gouaux
mesh_terms: D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011522:Protons; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D002712:Chlorides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011522:Protons; D015222:Sodium Channels