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Non-equilibrium dynamics contribute to ion selectivity in the KcsA channel.

ABSTRACT: The ability of biological ion channels to conduct selected ions across cell membranes is critical for the survival of both animal and bacterial cells. Numerous investigations of ion selectivity have been conducted over more than 50 years, yet the mechanisms whereby the channels select certain ions and reject others are not well understood. Here we report a new application of Jarzynski's Equality to investigate the mechanism of ion selectivity using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of Na(+) and K(+) ions moving through the KcsA channel. The simulations show that the selectivity filter of KcsA adapts and responds to the presence of the ions with structural rearrangements that are different for Na(+) and K(+). These structural rearrangements facilitate entry of K(+) ions into the selectivity filter and permeation through the channel, and rejection of Na(+) ions. A mechanistic model of ion selectivity by this channel based on the results of the simulations relates the structural rearrangement of the selectivity filter to the differential dehydration of ions and multiple-ion occupancy and describes a mechanism to efficiently select and conduct K(+). Estimates of the K(+)/Na(+) selectivity ratio and steady state ion conductance for KcsA from the simulations are in good quantitative agreement with experimental measurements. This model also accurately describes experimental observations of channel block by cytoplasmic Na(+) ions, the "punch through" relief of channel block by cytoplasmic positive voltages, and is consistent with the knock-on mechanism of ion permeation.

SUBMITTER: Ngo V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3895005 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Non-equilibrium dynamics contribute to ion selectivity in the KcsA channel.

Ngo Van V Stefanovski Darko D Haas Stephan S Farley Robert A RA

PloS one 20140117 1

The ability of biological ion channels to conduct selected ions across cell membranes is critical for the survival of both animal and bacterial cells. Numerous investigations of ion selectivity have been conducted over more than 50 years, yet the mechanisms whereby the channels select certain ions and reject others are not well understood. Here we report a new application of Jarzynski's Equality to investigate the mechanism of ion selectivity using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations ...[more]

PMID: 24465882

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Project description:Potassium (K(+)) channels are specialized membrane proteins that are able to facilitate and regulate the conduction of K(+) through cell membranes. Comprising five specific cation binding sites (S(0)-S(4)) formed by the backbone carbonyl groups of conserved residues common to all K(+) channels, the narrow selectivity filter allows fast conduction of K(+) while being highly selective for K(+) over Na(+). To extend our knowledge of the microscopic mechanism underlying selectivity in K(+) channels, we characterize the free energy landscapes governing the entry and translocation of a Na(+) or a K(+) from the extracellular side into the selectivity filter of KcsA. The entry process of an extracellular ion is examined in the presence of two additional K(+) in the pore, and the three-ion potential of mean force is computed using extensive all-atom umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulations. A comparison of the potentials of mean force yields a number of important results. First, the free energy minima corresponding to configurations with extracellular K(+) or Na(+) in binding site S(0) or S(1) are similar in depth, suggesting that the thermodynamic selectivity governed by the free energy minima for those two binding sites is insignificant. Second, the free energy barriers between stable multi-ion configurations are generally higher for Na(+) than for K(+), implying that the kinetics of ion conduction is slower when a Na(+) enters the pore. Third, the region corresponding to binding site S(2) near the center of the narrow pore emerges as the most selective for K(+) over Na(+). In particular, while there is a stable minimum for K(+) in site S(2), Na(+) faces a steep free energy increase with no local free energy well in this region. Lastly, analysis shows that selectivity is not correlated with the overall coordination number of the ion entering the pore, but is predominantly affected by changes in the type of coordinating ligands (carbonyls versus water molecules). These results further highlight the importance of the central region near binding site S(2) in the selectivity filter of K(+) channels.

Dataset Information

Non-equilibrium dynamics contribute to ion selectivity in the KcsA channel.

Publications

Non-equilibrium dynamics contribute to ion selectivity in the KcsA channel.

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