Understanding Sodium Channel Function and Modulation Using Atomistic Simulations of Bacterial Channel Structures.

ABSTRACT: Sodium channels are chief proteins involved in electrical signaling in the nervous system, enabling critical functions like heartbeat and brain activity. New high-resolution X-ray structures for bacterial sodium channels have created an opportunity to see how these proteins operate at the molecular level. An important challenge to overcome is establishing relationships between the structures and functions of mammalian and bacterial channels. Bacterial sodium channels are known to exhibit the main structural features of their mammalian counterparts, as well as several key functional characteristics, including selective ion conduction, voltage-dependent gating, pore-based inactivation and modulation by local anesthetic, antiarrhythmic and antiepileptic drugs. Simulations have begun to shed l

SUBMITTER: Boiteux C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6591151 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature