Voltage-dependent structural changes and functinal mechanism of voltage-dependent ion channels

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590048
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Physical pharmacy
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: OSAWA Masanori 東京大学, 薬学研究科(研究院), 講師 (60361606)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SHIMADA Ichio 東京大学, 大学院薬学系研究科, 教授 (70196476)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 電位依存性イオンチャネル / SS-locking / 構造変化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Voltage-dependent K+ channels (Kv) regulates active potential by selectively permeating K+ through cell membrane, playing critical roles in neurotransmission and muscle contraction. To date, voltage-dependent confomational changes of Kv remais elusive, due to lack of the method to analyze the strucutre under membrane potential.
The aim of this study is to reveal structrural mechanism of Kv that senses membrane potential. We established a novel method to analyze structure under membrane potential. Based on the results obtained here, we propose that Kv undergoes structural equilibrium that shifts depending upon the membrane potential.

Free Research Field

構造生物学