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From membrane tension to channel gating: A principal energy transfer mechanism for mechanosensitive channels
Author(s) -
Zhang Xuejun C.,
Liu Zhenfeng,
Li Jie
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
protein science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.353
H-Index - 175
eISSN - 1469-896X
pISSN - 0961-8368
DOI - 10.1002/pro.3017
Subject(s) - mechanosensitive channels , gating , biophysics , mechanism (biology) , förster resonance energy transfer , chemistry , membrane , ion channel , biology , physics , biochemistry , receptor , quantum mechanics , fluorescence
Mechanosensitive (MS) channels are evolutionarily conserved membrane proteins that play essential roles in multiple cellular processes, including sensing mechanical forces and regulating osmotic pressure. Bacterial MscL and MscS are two prototypes of MS channels. Numerous structural studies, in combination with biochemical and cellular data, provide valuable insights into the mechanism of energy transfer from membrane tension to gating of the channel. We discuss these data in a unified two‐state model of thermodynamics. In addition, we propose a lipid diffusion‐mediated mechanism to explain the adaptation phenomenon of MscS.