Levers and Zippers in the Cell's 'Customs' (IMAGE)

Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

Levers and Zippers in the Cell's 'Customs'

Caption

This is a representation of the two voltage coupling models in a potassium ion channel. Above, the canonical model: the voltage sensor (blue helix) acts as a lever that moves the linker (green segment), causing the turquoise helix in the lower part of the pore to adjust to open or close it. Bottom, the non-canonical coupling mechanism: the voltage sensor (blue helix) adjusts to an upper part of the pore (orange helix) like a zipper, which again impacts on the turquoise helix by affecting the pore state, opening it or closing it.

Credit

Fernández-Mariño et al./ WISC

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