Nature Communications (Nov 2018)

Main-chain mutagenesis reveals intrahelical coupling in an ion channel voltage-sensor

  • Daniel T. Infield,
  • Kimberly Matulef,
  • Jason D. Galpin,
  • Kin Lam,
  • Emad Tajkhorshid,
  • Christopher A. Ahern,
  • Francis I. Valiyaveetil

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-07477-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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The helical transmembrane segments of membrane proteins play central roles in sensory transduction but the mechanistic basis for their function remains unresolved. Here the authors identify regions in the S4 voltage-sensing segment of Shaker potassium channels where local helical structure is reliant upon backbone amide support.