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  • Title: Equilibrium selectivity alone does not create K+-selective ion conduction in K+ channels.
    Author: Liu S, Lockless SW.
    Journal: Nat Commun; 2013; 4():2746. PubMed ID: 24217508.
    Abstract:
    Potassium (K(+)) channels are selective for K(+) over Na(+) ions during their transport across membranes. We and others have previously shown that tetrameric K(+) channels are primarily occupied by K(+) ions in their selectivity filters under physiological conditions, demonstrating the channel's intrinsic equilibrium preference for K(+) ions. Based on this observation, we hypothesize that the preference for K(+) ions over Na(+) ions in the filter determines its selectivity during ion conduction. Here, we ask whether non-selective cation channels, which share an overall structure and similar individual ion-binding sites with K(+) channels, have an ion preference at equilibrium. The variants of the non-selective Bacillus cereus NaK cation channel we examine are all selective for K(+) over Na(+) ions at equilibrium. Thus, the detailed architecture of the K(+) channel selectivity filter, and not only its equilibrium ion preference, is fundamental to the generation of selectivity during ion conduction.
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