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The voltage-sensitive sodium channel is a bell-shaped molecule with several cavities

Sato, C. and Ueno, Y. and Asai, K. and Takahashi, K. and Sato, M. and Engel, A. and Fujiyoshi, Y.. (2001) The voltage-sensitive sodium channel is a bell-shaped molecule with several cavities. Nature, Vol. 409 No. 6823. pp. 1047-1051.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5262382

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Abstract

Voltage-sensitive membrane channels, the sodium channel, the potassium channel and the calcium channel operate together to amplify, transmit and generate electric pulses in higher forms of life. Sodium and calcium channels are involved in cell excitation, neuronal transmission, muscle contraction and many functions that relate directly to human diseases. Sodium channels--glycosylated proteins with a relative molecular mass of about 300,000 (ref. 5)--are responsible for signal transduction and amplification, and are chief targets of anaesthetic drugs and neurotoxins. Here we present the three- dimensional structure of the voltage-sensitive sodium channel from the eel Electrophorus electricus. The 19 A structure was determined by helium-cooled cryo-electron microscopy and single-particle image analysis of the solubilized sodium channel. The channel has a bell- shaped outer surface of 135 A in height and 100 A in side length at the square-shaped bottom, and a spherical top with a diameter of 65 A. Several inner cavities are connected to four small holes and eight orifices close to the extracellular and cytoplasmic membrane surfaces. Homologous voltage-sensitive calcium and tetrameric potassium channels, which regulate secretory processes and the membrane potential, may possess a related structure.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Biozentrum > Former Organization Units Biozentrum > Structural Biology (Engel)
UniBasel Contributors:Engel, Andreas H
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Macmillan
ISSN:0028-0836
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Last Modified:22 Mar 2012 14:21
Deposited On:22 Mar 2012 13:23

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