A group of scientists from the University of Malta demonstrate a novel mechanism of gating for potassium channels
On 4 July, the article titled “A channelopathy mutation in the voltage-sensor discloses contributions of a conserved phenylalanine to gating properties of Kv1.1 channels and ataxia” was published in the prestigious Journal SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, which forms part of the NATURE publishing group.
This study brings together the areas of neuroscience and protein structural biology and is the subject of a close collaboration co-ordinated by Dr Maria Cristina D’Adamo and involving Dr Therese Hunter, Prof. Gary Hunter and Prof. Mauro Pessia from the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry of the University of Malta, and others scientists from the University of Kuwait, Catholic University of the “Sacred Heart”, Rome and the Italian National Research Council.
By studying the electrophysiological properties of a mutant Kv1.1 channel, identified in a patient affected by a neurological disease named “Episodic Ataxia Type 1” and, performing advanced structural analysis they demonstrated for the first time that an aromatic residue located in the voltage-sensor of the protein fine tunes conformational equilibria in this channel. Furthermore, they demonstrated the pathogenic relevance of this mutation that must be taken into consideration for correct molecular diagnosis of the disease. These results are also of great significance for drug design and future therapies.