Study Establishes “Ball and Chain” Mechanism Inactivates Key Mammalian Ion Channel (IMAGE)

Weill Cornell Medicine

Study Establishes “Ball and Chain” Mechanism Inactivates Key Mammalian Ion Channel

Caption

The BK ion channel pictured above forms a small pathway in the cell membrane (dark gray) that allows potassium ions (purple) to move in and out of the cell. This channel can stop the flow of ions using a mechanism called ball-and-chain inactivation: a ball-like plug swings from the end of a flexible protein subunit (yellow), blocking the channel.

Credit

Elizabeth Kim

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