'Ball and chain' mechanism inactivates key mammalian ion channel, study finds
A new study has unveiled a precise picture of how an ion channel found in most mammalian cells regulates its own function with a "ball-and-chain" channel-plugging mechanism, according to investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine. The findings boost the understanding of ion channel biology and could lead to new drugs that target these channels to treat disorders such as epilepsy and hypertension.
Broad bean thrives despite a hyperactive ion channel, finds study
Plants in which an ion channel of the vacuole is hyperactive are extremely stressed and grow poorly. But the broad bean is an exception, as Würzburg researchers have discovered. Their research is published in the journal eLife.
Solid-state NMR unveils fluoride ion channel permeation mechanism
A research team led by Shi Chaowei from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has adapted the fluoride ion channel protein Fluc-Ec1 combined with deuterium substitution and 19F labeling methods, paving a new path for membrane protein nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) research.
An escape signal for the nematode: Artificial intelligence helps elucidate structure of a novel light sensor
In a compost heap, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans finds a richly laid table: at a length of just one millimeter, the worm feeds on bacteria that decompose organic material. It is essential that the animal avoids sunlight—and not just to ensure its body remains at an optimal temperature and does not dry out.
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