Profile structures of the voltage-sensor domain and the voltage-gated K(+)-channel vectorially oriented in a single phospholipid bilayer membrane at the solid-vapor and solid-liquid interfaces determined by x-ray interferometry.

ABSTRACT: One subunit of the prokaryotic voltage-gated potassium ion channel from Aeropyrum pernix (KvAP) is comprised of six transmembrane α helices, of which S1-S4 form the voltage-sensor domain (VSD) and S5 and S6 contribute to the pore domain (PD) of the functional homotetramer. However, the mechanism of electromechanical coupling interconverting the closed-to-open (i.e., nonconducting-to-K(+)-conducting) states remains undetermined. Here, we have vectorially oriented the detergent (OG)-solubilized VSD in single monolayers by two independent approaches, namely "directed-assembly" and "self-assembly," to achieve a high in-plane density. Both utilize Ni coordination chemistry to tether the protein to an alkylated inorganic surface via its C-terminal His_{6} tag. Subsequently, the detergent is repl

SUBMITTER: Gupta S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3246680 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature