Coarse-grained model for mechanosensitive ion channels.
In this work, a coarse-grained model for a kind of membrane protein, the mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS), is proposed. The basic structure of the MscS is preserved when the protein is coarse-grained. For the coarse-grained model, the channels show two different states, namely the open and closed states, depending on the model parameters. Under the same membrane tension, the state of the ion channel is found to be critically determined by the protein structure, especially the length of the transmembrane alpha-helix. It is also found that for the protein with certain size, the gating transition occurs when the membrane tension is applied, resembling in a real mechanosensitive channel.
Division of Molecular and Materials Simulation, Key Laboratory for Nanomaterials, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
Shuangyang
S
Li
Xianren
X
Zhang
Wenchuan
W
Wang
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D013500:Surface Tension
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; C469542:MscS protein, E coli