Issues
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
Cover picture: The American cockroach is a nocturnal scavenger with large, highly sensitive compound eyes. Upon light stimulation, two types of cationic channels open in Periplaneta eyes, TRP and TRPL. TRPL channels generate high-gain and high-noise signals suitable for dim light vision but restrict photoreceptor information capacity, whereas TRP channels produce low-gain and low-noise signals, facilitating transmission of large volumes of data in bright light (see Research Article by Saari et al., 455–464).
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
- PDF Icon PDF LinkEditorial Board
Research News
Sodium ion unlocks understanding of channel blockade
New simulations explain how several types of drugs block sodium channels.
Commentary
Protein ligands for studying ion channel proteins
Chavan et al. highlight work showing that a monobody can inhibit a fluoride channel using a mechanism similar to that of a scorpion toxin blocker of potassium channels.
CFTR gating: Invisible transitions made visible
Csanády discusses a new study that provides insight into the unique conductance properties of the CFTR chloride channel.
Milestone in Physiology
The glass micropipette electrode: A history of its inventors and users to 1950
Bretag traces the history of glass microelectrodes back to the 17th century.
Review
Understanding the conformational motions of RCK gating rings
A timely review of the structural basis of Ca2+-activated K+ channel modulation by regulator of conduction of K+ (RCK) domains
Article
Bright flash response recovery of mammalian rods in vivo is rate limited by RGS9
Peinado Allina et al. measure rod responses in living mice across a wide range of flash strengths and find that responses are much faster in vivo than ex vivo, though the biochemical mechanisms underlying the kinetics appear to be the same in both cases. Although RGS9 overexpression sped recovery from bright flashes, faster rod recovery did not improve the temporal resolution of scotopic vision.
Distinct roles of light-activated channels TRP and TRPL in photoreceptors of Periplaneta americana
Insect photoreceptors utilize two light-activated channels, TRP and TRPL, in their phototransduction cascades, but the American cockroach Periplaneta americana depends strongly on TRPL. Saari et al. show that TRPL generates high-gain and high-noise phototransduction suitable for dim light vision.
Mechanism of sodium channel block by local anesthetics, antiarrhythmics, and anticonvulsants
A number of different drugs block sodium channels, but their mechanism of block is unclear. Tikhonov and Zhorov combine homology modeling with ligand docking and propose a pharmacophore for sodium channel blockers involving cationic and aromatic moieties.
Evolutionary insights into T-type Ca2+ channel structure, function, and ion selectivity from the Trichoplax adhaerens homologue
The role of T-type calcium channels in animals without nervous systems is unknown. Smith et al. characterize TCav3 from Trichoplax adhaerens, finding expression in neurosecretory-like cells and preference for Ca2+ over Na+ via strong extracellular Ca2+ block, despite low selectivity for Ca2+ in the pore.
Mechanism of single- and double-sided inhibition of dual topology fluoride channels by synthetic monobodies
Fibronectin domain monobodies bind to both sides of Fluc Fl− channels in a negatively cooperative way, but crystal structures show two monobodies binding simultaneously. Turman and Stockbridge resolve this contradiction by showing that monobodies block channel pores by means of a negatively charged loop.
Communication
Probing the conformation of a conserved glutamic acid within the Cl− pathway of a CLC H+/Cl− exchanger
A conserved glutamic acid residue is thought to occupy three different conformations in the transport pathway of CLC H+/Cl− exchangers. Vien et al. provide functional evidence that the most central of these three positions is adopted by CLC-ec1 during transport and is stabilized by hydrogen bonds.
Email alerts
Most Read
Advertisement