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Caption
A simulation of part of the BK channel showed that the mutated channel (right) was less flexible than the wild type channel (left). The mutation is an alteration of a single amino acid (green ball on right), but it affects the dynamics of the entire structural unit of which it forms a part. This unit’s greater rigidity makes the channel easier to toggle open and closed, which means the nerve cell can fire at undesirably high frequencies.
Credit
Yang, Junqui; Krishnamoorthy, Gayathri; Saxena, Akansha; Zhang, Guohui; Shi, Jingyi; Yang, Huanghe; Delaloye, Kelli; Sept, David; Cui, Jianmin, “An Epilepsy/dyskinesia-associated mutation enhances BK channel activation by potentiating Ca2+ sensing,” Neuron, June 23, 2010.
Usage Restrictions
Please credit the journal Neuron.