Divalent Metal Ion Transport across Large Biological Ion Channels and Their Effect on Conductance and Selectivity.

ABSTRACT: Electrophysiological characterization of large protein channels, usually displaying multi-ionic transport and weak ion selectivity, is commonly performed at physiological conditions (moderate gradients of KCl solutions at decimolar concentrations buffered at neutral pH). We extend here the characterization of the OmpF porin, a wide channel of the outer membrane of E. coli, by studying the effect of salts of divalent cations on the transport properties of the channel. The regulation of divalent cations concentration is essential in cell metabolism and understanding their effects is of key importance, not only in the channels specifically designed to control their passage but also in other multiionic channels. In particular, in porin channels like OmpF, divalent cations modulate the efficien

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Gimenez E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3449104 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature