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Ion channels: molecular basis of ion selectivity
Author(s) -
Imoto Keiji
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(93)81422-v
Subject(s) - selectivity , chemistry , ion channel , ion , mutagenesis , biophysics , kcsa potassium channel , amino acid , biochemistry , mutant , biology , gene , organic chemistry , receptor , catalysis
Recent mutagenesis studies of the ion channel proteins have allowed us to identify amino acid residues critical in determining ion selectivity. Ion selectivity of a channel can be altered even by single animo acid substitutions. Functional analyses of mutants largely support views in classical biophysics that the pore size and the fixed charges are major determinants of ion selectivity. For full understanding of the molecular mechanism of ion selectivity, elucidation of the tertiary structure of channel proteins remains essential.