Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The ion channel of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a water-filled pore formed by five M2 helix segments, one from each subunit. Molecular dynamics simulations on bundles of five M2 alpha 7 helices surrounding a central column of water and with caps of water molecules at either end of the pore have been used to explore the effects of intrapore water on helix packing. Interactions of water molecules with the N-terminal polar sidechains lead to a conformational transition from right- to left-handed supercoils during these stimulations. These studies reveal that the pore formed by the bundle of M2 helices is flexible. A structural role is proposed for water molecules in determining the geometry of bundles of isolated pore-forming helices.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/0014-5793(95)01376-8

Type

Journal article

Journal

FEBS Lett

Publication Date

27/12/1995

Volume

377

Pages

377 - 382

Keywords

Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Chickens, Computer Simulation, Ion Channels, Models, Molecular, Molecular Sequence Data, Protein Structure, Secondary, Receptor, Muscarinic M2, Receptors, Muscarinic, Thermodynamics, Water