Issues

Cover picture: Modification of the cytoplasmic, carboxyl-terminal domain (CT) of connexin26 affects modulation of channel activity by taurine (left, from top: orbital structure, electrostatic potential, local ionization potential). Energy-minimized conformations of the native CT (center) with a four amino acid addition (right) are shown. NMR shows that taurine interacts only with the cytoplasmic loop domain (CL), not the CT. In the presence of taurine, the pore closes; the four amino acid extension causes pore narrowing. Results suggest that CL–CT interaction affects gating, and that taurine modifies this interaction (see article by Locke et al., 321–339).