A prokaryotic voltage-gated sodium channel

Science. 2001 Dec 14;294(5550):2372-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1065635.

Abstract

The pore-forming subunits of canonical voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels are encoded by four repeated domains of six-transmembrane (6TM) segments. We expressed and characterized a bacterial ion channel (NaChBac) from Bacillus halodurans that is encoded by one 6TM segment. The sequence, especially in the pore region, is similar to that of voltage-gated calcium channels. The expressed channel was activated by voltage and was blocked by calcium channel blockers. However, the channel was selective for sodium. The identification of NaChBac as a functionally expressed bacterial voltage-sensitive ion-selective channel provides insight into both voltage-dependent activation and divalent cation selectivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Bacillus / chemistry*
  • Bacillus / genetics
  • Bacillus / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • CHO Cells
  • COS Cells
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Calcium Channels / chemistry
  • Calcium Channels / metabolism
  • Cricetinae
  • Dihydropyridines / pharmacology
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Ion Channel Gating
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sodium / metabolism*
  • Sodium Channels / chemistry
  • Sodium Channels / genetics*
  • Sodium Channels / metabolism*
  • Tetrodotoxin / pharmacology
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Calcium Channels
  • Dihydropyridines
  • NaChBac protein, bacteria
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Sodium Channels
  • Tetrodotoxin
  • 1,4-dihydropyridine
  • Sodium
  • Calcium