title: Minimal art: or why small viral K(+) channels are good tools for understanding basic structure and function relations.
abstract: Some algal viruses contain genes that encode proteins with the hallmarks of K(+) channels. One feature of these proteins is that they are less than 100 amino acids in size, which make them truly minimal for a K(+) channel protein. That is, they consist of only the pore module present in more complex K(+) channels. The combination of miniature size and the functional robustness of the viral K(+) channels make them ideal model systems for studying how K(+) channels work. Here we summarize recent structure/function correlates from these channels, which provide insight into functional properties such as gating, pharmacology and sorting in cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany. thiel@bio.tu-darmstadt.de
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baumeister
authors.forename: Indra
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Stefan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kast
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Van Etten
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moroni
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008958:Models, Molecular; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017862:Phycodnaviridae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C405463:Kcv potassium channel, Chlorella virus; D015221:Potassium Channels; D014764:Viral Proteins