Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Monitoring Leucine-Rich Repeat Containing 8 Channel (LRRC8/VRAC) Activity Using Sensitized-Emission Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (SE-FRET)
Published on: August 9, 2024
ORF8a of SARS-CoV forms an ion channel: experiments and molecular dynamics simulations
Cheng-Chang Chen1, Jens Krüger, Issara Sramala
1Institute of Biophotonics, School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Li-Nong St., Sec. 2, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.
Abstract:
ORF8a protein is 39 residues long and contains a single transmembrane domain. The protein is synthesized using solid phase peptide synthesis and reconstituted into artificial lipid bilayers that forms cation-selective ion channels with a main conductance level of 8.9±0.8pS at elevated temperature (38.5°C). Computational modeling studies including multi nanosecond molecular dynamics simulations in a hydrated POPC lipid bilayer are done with a 22 amino acid transmembrane helix to predict a putative homooligomeric helical bundle model. A structural model of a pentameric bundle is proposed with cysteines, serines and threonines facing the pore.
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