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SUMMARY:Gating Transition of Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channels - willia
 m belfield (University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20100212T153000Z
DTEND:20100212T160000Z
UID:TALK23087@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Daniel Cole
DESCRIPTION:"Biophysical Journal 97\, 2456-2463 (2009)":http://www.science
 direct.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B94RW-4XJXVJF-C&_user=1495569&_cove
 rDate=11%2F04%2F2009&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&vi
 ew=c&_searchStrId=1200321346&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000053194&_version
 =1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1495569&md5=a15905aa94fbaac43697ddc7e6dd891f\n\nP
 entameric ligand-gated ion channels are an important family of membrane pr
 oteins and play key roles in physiological processes\, including signal tr
 ansduction at chemical synapses. Here\, we study the conformational change
 s associated with the opening and closing of the channel pore. Based on re
 cent crystal structures of two prokaryotic members of the family in open a
 nd closed states\, respectively\, mixed elastic network models are constru
 cted for the transmembrane domain. To explore the conformational changes i
 n the gating transition\, a coarse-grained transition path is computed tha
 t smoothly connects the closed and open conformations of the channel. We f
 ind that the conformational transition involves no major rotations of the 
 transmembrane helices\, and is instead characterized by a concerted tiltin
 g of helices M2 and M3. In addition\, helix M2 changes its bending state\,
  which results in an early closure of the pore during the open-to-closed t
 ransition.
LOCATION:TCM Seminar Room\, Cavendish Laboratory
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