3k6n is a 1 chain structure with sequence from Mus musculus. Full crystallographic information is available from OCA. For a guided tour on the structure components use FirstGlance.
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Strong voltage sensitivity of inward-rectifier K(+) (Kir) channels has been hypothesized to arise primarily from an intracellular blocker displacing up to five K(+) ions from the wide, intracellular part of the ion conduction pore outwardly across the narrow ion-selectivity filter. The validity of this hypothesis depends on two assumptions: (i) that five ion sites are located intracellular to the filter and (ii) that the blocker can force essentially unidirectional K(+) movement in a pore region generally wider than the combined dimensions of the blocker plus a K(+) ion. Here we present a crystal structure of the cytoplasmic portion of a Kir channel with five ions bound and demonstrate that a constriction near the intracellular end of the pore, acting as a gasket, prevents K(+) ions from bypassing the blocker. This heretofore unrecognized 'gasket' ensures that the blocker can effectively displace K(+) ions across the selectivity filter to generate exceedingly strong voltage sensitivity.
Physical determinants of strong voltage sensitivity of K(+) channel block.,Xu Y, Shin HG, Szep S, Lu Z Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2009 Dec;16(12):1252-8. Epub 2009 Nov 15. PMID:19915587[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
↑ Xu Y, Shin HG, Szep S, Lu Z. Physical determinants of strong voltage sensitivity of K(+) channel block. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2009 Dec;16(12):1252-8. Epub 2009 Nov 15. PMID:19915587 doi:10.1038/nsmb.1717
