Enhancement of K⁺ channel permeation by selective terahertz excitation

The optical excitation effects offer an opportunity to gain insights into the structure and the function of K⁺ channel, contributing to the prediction of possible targets for drug design and precision therapy. Although there has been increasing research attention on the modulation of ion permeation in K+ channel by terahertz electromagnetic (THz-EM) stimuli, little exploration has been conducted regarding the dependence of ion permeation on frequencies. By using two-dimensional (2D) infrared excitation spectrum calculation for the K⁺ channel, we have discovered that the frequency of 53.60 THz serves as an optimal excitation modulation mode. This mode leads to an almost twofold enhancement in the rate of K⁺ ion permeation and a tenfold increase in selectivity efficiency. These improvements can be attributed to the coupling mode matching of the excited properties of CO groups in the K⁺ channel. Our findings propose a promising application of terahertz technology to improve the performance of ion channels, nanomembrane sieves, nanodevices, as well as neural therapy.