Not so optimal: The evolution of mutual information in potassium voltage-gated channels

ABSTRACT: Potassium voltage-gated (Kv) channels need to detect and respond to rapidly changing ionic concentrations in their environment. With an essential role in regulating electric signaling, they would be expected to be optimal sensors that evolved to predict the ionic concentrations. To explore these assumptions, we use statistical mechanics in conjunction with information theory to model how animal Kv channels respond to changes in potassium concentrations in their environment. By measuring mutual information in representative Kv channel types across a variety of environments, we find two things. First, under weak conditions, there is a gating charge that maximizes mutual information with the environment. Second, as Kv channels evolved, they have moved towards decreasing mutual information wit

SUBMITTER: Duran-Urriago A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9897580 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature