title: Crystal structure of a voltage-gated K+ channel pore module in a closed state in lipid membranes.
abstract: Voltage-gated K(+) channels underlie the electrical excitability of cells. Each subunit of the functional tetramer consists of the tandem fusion of two modules, an N-terminal voltage-sensor and a C-terminal pore. To investigate how sensor coupling to the pore generates voltage-dependent channel opening, we solved the crystal structure and characterized the function of a voltage-gated K(+) channel pore in a lipid membrane. The structure of a functional channel in a membrane environment at 3.1 Å resolution establishes an unprecedented connection between channel structure and function. The structure is unique in delineating an ion-occupied ready to conduct selectivity filter, a confined aqueous cavity, and a closed activation gate, embodying a dynamic entity trapped in an unstable closed state.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Jose S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Guillermo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Asmar-Rovira
authors.forename: Gye Won
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ruhma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Syeda
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cherezov
authors.forename: Kent A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Raymond C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montal
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated