Title
Control Of Cation Permeation Through The Nicotinic Receptor Channel
Abstract
We used molecular dynamics ( MD) simulations to explore the transport of single cations through the channel of the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ( nAChR). Four MD simulations of 16 ns were performed at physiological and hyperpolarized membrane potentials, with and without restraints of the structure, but all without bound agonist. With the structure unrestrained and a potential of -100 mV, one cation traversed the channel during a transient period of channel hydration; at -200 mV, the channel was continuously hydrated and two cations traversed the channel. With the structure restrained, however, cations did not traverse the channel at either membrane potential, even though the channel was continuously hydrated. The overall results show that cation selective transport through the nAChR channel is governed by electrostatic interactions to achieve charge selectivity, but ion translocation relies on channel hydration, facilitated by a trans-membrane field, coupled with dynamic fluctuations of the channel structure.
Year
DOI
Venue
2008
10.1371/journal.pcbi.0040041
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
Keywords
Field
DocType
membrane potential,permeability,electromagnetic fields,lipid bilayers,computer simulation,molecular dynamic,motion
Membrane potential,Biology,Biophysics,Biochemistry,Nicotinic agonist,Communication channel,Lipid bilayer,Channel blocker,Molecular dynamics,Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor,Genetics,Selectivity
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
4
2
1553-7358
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
1
0.39
2
Authors
5
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Hai-Long Wang161.18
Xiaolin Cheng210.39
Palmer Taylor341.28
J. Andrew Mccammon415616.58
Steven M. Sine561.18