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Two separate interfaces between the Voltage sensor and pore are required for the function of Voltage-dependent K+ channels
Voltage-dependent K+(Kv) channels gate open in response to the membrane voltage. To further our understanding of how cell membrane voltage regulates the opening of a Kv channel, we have studied the protein interfaces that attach the voltage-sensor domains to the pore. In the crystal structure, three physical interfaces exist. Only two of these consist of amino acids that are co-evolved across the interface between voltage sensor and pore according to statistical coupling analysis of 360 Kv channel sequences. A first co-evolved interface is formed by the S4-S5 linkers (one from each of four voltage sensors), which form a cuff surrounding the S6-lined pore opening at the intracellular surface. The crystal structure and published mutational studies support the hypothesis that the S4-S5 linkers convert voltagesensor motions directly into gate opening and closing. A second co-evolved interface forms a small contact surface between S1 of the voltage sensor and the pore helix near the extracellular surface. We demonstrate through mutagenesis that this interface is necessary for the function and/or structure of two different Kv channels. This second interface is well positioned to act as a second anchor point between the voltage sensor and the pore, thus allowing efficient transmission of conformational changes to the pore's gate. Copyright: © 2009 Lee et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the.
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- Developmental Biology
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- 11 Medical and Health Sciences
- 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
- 06 Biological Sciences
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![Journal cover image](https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=/lc.gif&issn=1545-7885&client=dukeuniv)
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Developmental Biology
- 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
- 31 Biological sciences
- 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
- 11 Medical and Health Sciences
- 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
- 06 Biological Sciences