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The principle of gating charge movement in a voltage-dependent K+ channel

Author

Listed:
  • Youxing Jiang

    (Rockefeller University
    University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

  • Vanessa Ruta

    (Rockefeller University)

  • Jiayun Chen

    (Rockefeller University)

  • Alice Lee

    (Rockefeller University)

  • Roderick MacKinnon

    (Rockefeller University)

Abstract

The steep dependence of channel opening on membrane voltage allows voltage-dependent K+ channels to turn on almost like a switch. Opening is driven by the movement of gating charges that originate from arginine residues on helical S4 segments of the protein. Each S4 segment forms half of a ‘voltage-sensor paddle’ on the channel's outer perimeter. Here we show that the voltage-sensor paddles are positioned inside the membrane, near the intracellular surface, when the channel is closed, and that the paddles move a large distance across the membrane from inside to outside when the channel opens. KvAP channels were reconstituted into planar lipid membranes and studied using monoclonal Fab fragments, a voltage-sensor toxin, and avidin binding to tethered biotin. Our findings lead us to conclude that the voltage-sensor paddles operate somewhat like hydrophobic cations attached to levers, enabling the membrane electric field to open and close the pore.

Suggested Citation

  • Youxing Jiang & Vanessa Ruta & Jiayun Chen & Alice Lee & Roderick MacKinnon, 2003. "The principle of gating charge movement in a voltage-dependent K+ channel," Nature, Nature, vol. 423(6935), pages 42-48, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:423:y:2003:i:6935:d:10.1038_nature01581
    DOI: 10.1038/nature01581
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    Cited by:

    1. Ozer, Mahmut, 2005. "Determination of rate kinetics in ion channels by the path probability method and Onsager reciprocity theorem," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 357(3), pages 397-414.
    2. Alan J Situ & Tobias S Ulmer, 2019. "Universal principles of membrane protein assembly, composition and evolution," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(8), pages 1-20, August.

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