VOLTAGE-GATED POTASSIUM (KV) CHANNELS

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者所在的机构。 电压门控钾通道（http：//www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/kvchannel）是存在于生命的所有三个结构域中的完整膜蛋白。在一类特殊的动物细胞中，被称为可兴奋细胞  包括神经元、肌肉细胞和内分泌细胞  KV通道与其他阳离子通道（钠和钙通道）一起调节细胞的电活动和信号传导[1]。 Kv通道响应于跨细胞膜的电势的变化而激活（打开和关闭），从而允许K+离子通过通道的被动和选择性传导。 钾传导由跨膜的电化学梯度引导，并且可以实现非常高的速率，同时仍然区分所有其他阳离子（包括较小的Na+离子）[1]。 除了神经系统中的电信号外，Kv通道在调节心脏兴奋性和调节胰岛素释放中发挥重要作用。 在人类中，这些通道的功能障碍可导致神经系统或心血管疾病，如长QT综合征或发作性共济失调[2]。 Kv1.2 [3]是Shaker K+通道家族的成员，其晶体结构首次提供了哺乳动物钾通道在假定开放状态下的分子结构视图，分辨率为3.9埃。除了离子传导孔，四个电压传感器域也部分确定的结构。电压传感器包含几个带电残基，它们对电场的变化做出响应[4，5，6，7]，从而控制通道的打开和关闭。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Voltage-gated potassium channels (http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/kvchannel) are integral membrane proteins present in all three domains of life. In a specialized class of animal cells, known as excitable cells  including neurons, muscle cells, and endocrine cells  Kv channels work with other cation channels (sodium and calcium channels) to regulate the electrical activity and signaling of the cell [1]. Kv channels activate (open and close) in response to changes in the electrical potential across the cell membrane allowing passive and selective conduction of K+ ions through the channel. Potassium conduction is directed by the electrochemical gradient across the membrane and can achieve very high rates, while still discriminating against all other cations (including the smaller Na+ ions) [1]. In addition to electrical signaling in nervous systems, Kv channels play an important role in the regulation of cardiac excitability and regulation of insulin release. In humans, malfunction of these channels can result in neurological or cardiovascular diseases such as long QT syndrome or episodic ataxia [2]. The crystal structure of Kv1.2 [3], a member of the Shaker K+ channel family, has provided the first view of the molecular architecture of a mammalian potassium channel in a putative open state at 3.9 Angstrom resolution. In addition to the ion conduction pore, four voltage sensor domains are also partially identified in the structure. The voltage sensors contain several charged residues that respond to the changes in the electric field [4, 5, 6, 7],and, thus, control opening and closing of the channel.