Transduction of membrane tension by the ion channel alamethicin
1Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
Abstract:
Mechanoelectrical transduction in biological cells is generally attributed to tension-sensitive ion channels, but their mechanisms and physiology remain controversial due to the elusiveness of the channel proteins and potential cytoskeletal interactions. Our discovery of membrane tension sensitivity in ion channels formed by the protein alamethicin reconstituted into pure lipid membranes has demonstrated two simple physical mechanisms of cytoskeleton-independent transduction. Single channel analysis has shown that membrane tension energizes mechanical work for changes of conductance state equal to tension times the associated increase in membrane area. Results show a approximately 40 A2 increase in pore area and transfer of an 80-A2 polypeptide into the membrane. Both mechanisms may be implicated in mechanical signal transduction by cells.
More Related Videos
08:07Assembly and Characterization of Biomolecular Memristors Consisting of Ion Channel-doped Lipid Membranes
Published on: March 9, 2019
08:55Single-Molecule Imaging of Lateral Mobility and Ion Channel Activity in Lipid Bilayers using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy
Published on: February 17, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Ion Channels
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow specific...
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory organs,...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
