Potassium dependent structural changes in the selectivity filter of HERG potassium channels.

ABSTRACT: The fine tuning of biological electrical signaling is mediated by variations in the rates of opening and closing of gates that control ion flux through different ion channels. Human ether-a-go-go related gene (HERG) potassium channels have uniquely rapid inactivation kinetics which are critical to the role they play in regulating cardiac electrical activity. Here, we exploit the K⁺ sensitivity of HERG inactivation to determine structures of both a conductive and non-conductive selectivity filter structure of HERG. The conductive state has a canonical cylindrical shaped selectivity filter. The non-conductive state is characterized by flipping of the selectivity filter valine backbone carbonyls to point away from the central axis. The side chain of S620 on the pore helix plays a c

SUBMITTER: Lau CHY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11362469 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature