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Structure of cation channels, revealed by single particle electron microscopy

Authors :
Sokolova, Olga
Source :
FEBS Letters; Apr2004, Vol. 564 Issue 3, p251, 6p
Publication Year :
2004

Abstract

A large barrier in the way to obtaining high-resolution structures of eukaryotic ion channels remains the expression and purification of sufficient amounts of channel protein to carry out crystallization trials. In the absence of crystals, the main available source of structural information has been electron microscopy (EM), which is well suited to the visualization of isolated macromolecular complexes and their conformational changes. The recently published EM structures outline native conformations of eukaryotic cation channels that until now have eluded crystallization. According to these results, homo-tetrameric K<superscript>+</superscript> channels have a distinct two-layer architecture with connectors conjoining the two layers, while the pseudo-tetrameric Ca<superscript>2+</superscript> or Na<superscript>+</superscript> channels are more globular and have flexible surface loops, which makes the identification of subunits complicated. Subunits can be identified using atomic structure docking into the EM maps, labeling, or deletion studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00145793
Volume :
564
Issue :
3
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
FEBS Letters
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
12906545
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-5793(04)00254-6