NOVARTIS FOUNDATION SYMPOSIUM 245 - ION CHANNELS - FROM ATOMIC RESOLUTION PHYSIOLOGY TO FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS

Ion channels provide a unique opportunity to use computational approaches to attempt an understanding of the function of a membrane protein, starting with an atomic resolution structure and progressing through a hierarchy of theoretical descriptions until one can account quantitatively for their physiological function. This book brings together physiologists, structural biologists and theorists who came together to help define the direction of the field in the immediate future.
Topics covered include:
* the x-ray structure of channels and pores
* computer simulation of channel function
* detailed data on potassium channels, chloride and calcium channels, and ligand-gated ion channels

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Introduction: stretching the envelope in structure-function studies of ion channels (M. Sansom)

Structure of acetylcholine-gated channel (N. Unwin)

The 2.7 A structure of AChBP, homologue of the ligand-building domain of the nicotonic acetylcholine receptor (K. Brejc, et al.)

The architecture of a water-selective pore in the lipid bilayer visualized by electron crystallography in vitreous ice (A. Mitra, et al.)

The structure of Glpf, a glycerol conducting channel (D. Fu, et al.)

Water in ion channels and pores—simulation studies (M. Sansom, et al.)

What can be deduced about the structure of Shaker from available data? (B. Roux)

Permeation energetics in a model potassium channel (S. Garofoli, et al.)

The β subunit of K_v1 channels: voltage-gated enzyme or safety switch? (J. Gulbis)

EPR approaches to ion channel structure and function (E. Perozo, et al.)

Excitability is mediated by the T1 domain of the voltage-gated potassium channel (S. Choe, et al.)

 Structural organization of the voltage sensor in voltage-dependent potassium channels (D. Papazian, et al.)

Electron diffraction of a bacterial CIC -type chloride channel (M. Pirruccello, et al.)

A protein chemical approach to channel structure and function: the proton channel of the vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (J. Findlay and M. Harrison)

Acetylcholine receptors, between closed and open (A. Auerbach)

Functional genomics of ionotropic acetylcholine receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophilia melanogaster (D. Satelle et al.)

Final General Discussion

Index of Contributors

Subject Index