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Updated: Jul 12, 2025

Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry
Published on: September 28, 2016
Structural basis of properties, mechanisms, and channelopathy of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels
1Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract:
Recent years have seen an outpouring of atomic or near atomic resolution structures of cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels, captured in closed, transition, pre-open, partially open, and fully open states. These structures provide unprecedented molecular insights into the activation, assembly, architecture, regulation, and channelopathy of CNG channels, as well as mechanistic explanations for CNG channel biophysical and pharmacological properties. This article summarizes recent advances in CNG channel structural biology, describes key structural features and elements, and illuminates a detailed conformational landscape of activation by cyclic nucleotides. The review also correlates structures with findings and properties delineated in functional studies, including nonselective monovalent cation selectivity, Ca2+ permeation and block, block by L-cis-diltiazem, location of the activation gate, lack of voltage-dependent gating, and modulation by lipids and calmodulin. A perspective on future research is also offered.
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