Physics of Selective Conduction and Point Mutation in Biological Ion Channels

Phys Rev Lett. 2021 May 28;126(21):218102. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.218102.

Abstract

We introduce a statistical and linear response theory of selective conduction in biological ion channels with multiple binding sites and possible point mutation. We derive an effective grand-canonical ensemble and generalized Einstein relations for the selectivity filter, assuming strongly coordinated ionic motion, and allowing for ionic Coulomb blockade. The theory agrees well with data from the KcsA K^{+} channel and a mutant. We show that the Eisenman relations for thermodynamic selectivity follow from the condition for fast conduction and find that maximum conduction requires the binding sites to be nearly identical.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Ion Channels / chemistry*
  • Ion Channels / genetics*
  • Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Models, Biological*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Genetic
  • Models, Molecular
  • Point Mutation*
  • Potassium Channels / chemistry
  • Potassium Channels / genetics
  • Potassium Channels / metabolism
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Ion Channels
  • Potassium Channels
  • prokaryotic potassium channel