Newest Articles
Claudins get a closer lookJGP study examines claudin-15 ion selectivity and permeation.
Structure and function of claudin-15 channelMembers of the claudin family form tight junctions between adjacent epithelial and endothelial cells. Samanta et al. build an atomic model of claudin-15 using molecular dynamics simulations and conclude that four claudin-15 molecules each contribute an aspartic acid residue to form a selectivity filter.
TMEM16 scramblases and channelsFalzone et al. interpret the mechanisms underlying the activity of TMEM16 family members from recent structural and functional work.
Na+ blockade evokes external K+ dependence of Kir2.1The conductance of the strong inward rectifier K+ channel depends on the “square root” of the extracellular K+ concentration. The present study shows that this physiologically important phenomenon is caused by a channel blockade by extracellular Na+, which is competitive with extracellular K+.
Shear elegance: A novel screen uncovers a mechanosensitive GPCRLam and Chesler highlight the recent discovery of a G protein–coupled receptor involved in detecting mechanical shear stress.
Electrical activity of the reticulum membraneThe sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane contains ion channels, but it is unknown whether it experiences voltage changes during cellular activity. By expressing voltage-sensitive fluorescence biosensors in this membrane, Sanchez et al. suggest that it remains electrically silent during muscle activation.
![A privileged role for neuronal Na<sup>+</sup> channels in regulating ventricular [Ca<sup>2+</sup>] and arrhythmias](http://jgp.rupress.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_style_80x80/public/externals/326e7deeb875272de3ce4082f7a32ba1.gif?itok=il-rU__G)
Role of neuronal Na+ channels in Ca2+-dependent arrhythmiasJones et al. provide commentary on the intricate crosstalk between ion transporters that goes awry in long QT arrhythmia.
Recording the mitochondrial calcium uniporterThe mitochondrial calcium uniporter is a Ca2+ channel that has been hard to characterize electrophysiologically. Tsai and Tsai establish a method that permits efficient electrophysiological recordings of the human uniporter in Xenopus oocytes and demonstrate characteristic uniporter behaviour.
Functional consequences of deglycosylation assessed in the same population of KV channelsVoltage-gated ion channels are subject to posttranslational modification, including glycosylation. Lopez-Rodriguez and Holmgren show that, in Shaker KV channels, deglycosylation influences voltage sensing and open–closed transitions but not binding of ligands to the protein.
Isosteric charge ablation in a voltage sensorActivation of voltage-gated channels results from the outward movement of arginine residues on the S4 segments. Infield et al. use in vivo nonsense suppression to replace Shaker's S4 arginine residues with citrulline and reveal that a positive charge is required on R4 for voltage-dependent deactivation.
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August 6, 2018
Volume 150, No. 8
