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Common structural features in gramicidin and other ion channels
Author(s) -
Wallace B. A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-1878(200003)22:3<227::aid-bies4>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - ion channel , gramicidin , potassium channel , transmembrane channels , chemistry , biophysics , kcsa potassium channel , ion transporter , inward rectifier potassium ion channel , membrane , biology , voltage gated ion channel , biochemistry , receptor
This review compares and contrasts the structures of several different types of ion channels with known three‐dimensional structures, including gramicidin and the family of peptaibol channels, as well as the Streptomyces lividans potassium channel, to reveal common features in their structures that relate to their functional roles in ion binding and transport across membranes. Specifically, the locations of aromatic amino acids, the dimensions of the molecules, the multimeric nature of the channels and the roles of hydrogen bonds in stabilising such structures, the means by which the channels open and close, and the chemical nature of the groups which make up the channel lumen are discussed. The emphasis is on the commonality of features found in model channels, which may ultimately be found in other biological channel structures. BioEssays 22:227–234, 2000. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.