S4–S5 linker movement during activation and inactivation in voltage-gated K + channels

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1719105115
• Publication Date: 2018-06-29T18:55:38Z
• Authors: Tanja Kalstrup; Rikard Blunck
• Keywords: Linker; Shaker

Significance Excitability in heart and nervous system is based on sensing propagation of the membrane potential by voltage-gated ion channels. Despite increasing availability high-resolution structures channels, key questions about their dynamics remain elusive. Here we followed movements gating machinery cytosolic surface Shaker K V channel introducing a fluorescent noncanonical amino acid at different positions along linker between voltage sensor pore. We can thus map movement each position reconstruct during activation inactivation. Considering that serves as model system, mechanisms are likely conserved among those channels containing sizeable S4–S5 linker.