Direct knock-on of desolvated ions governs strict ion selectivity in K⁺ channels

The seeming contradiction that K⁺ channels conduct K⁺ ions at maximal throughput rates while not permeating slightly smaller Na⁺ ions has perplexed scientists for decades. Although numerous models have addressed selective permeation in K⁺ channels, the combination of conduction efficiency and ion selectivity has not yet been linked through a unified functional model. Here, we investigate the mechanism of ion selectivity through atomistic simulations totalling more than 400 μs in length, which include over 7,000 permeation events. Together with free-energy calculations, our simulations show that both rapid permeation of K⁺ and ion selectivity are ultimately based on a single principle: the direct knock-on of completely desolvated ions in the channels' selectivity filter. Herein, the strong interactions between multiple 'naked' ions in the four filter binding sites give rise to a natural exclusion of any competing ions. Our results are in excellent agreement with experimental selectivity data, measured ion interaction energies and recent two-dimensional infrared spectra of filter ion configurations.