A role for hydrophobic residues in the voltage-dependent gating of Shaker K+ channels.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.88.7.2931
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T11:56:40Z
• Authors: K McCormack; M A Tanouye; L E Iverson; J W Lin; M Ramaswami; T McCormack; J T Campanelli; M K Mathew; B Rudy
• Keywords: Shaker; Heptad repeat; KcsA potassium channel

A leucine heptad repeat is well conserved in voltage-dependent ion channels. Herein we examine the role of region Shaker K+ channels through substitution leucines and coexpression normal truncated products. In contrast to leucine-zipper DNA-binding proteins, find that subunit assembly does not depend on repeat. Instead, report substitutions produce large effects observed voltage dependence conductance prepulse inactivation curves. Our results suggest mediate interactions play an important transduction charge movement into channel opening closing.