Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
Volume 23, Issue 23, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315071
Keywords
mechanosensitive; MscS-like channels; functional lipids; lipid-protein interactions
Funding
- German Research Council
- [Bo1150/15-1]
- [Bo1150/15-2]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The ability to cope with and adapt to changes in the environment is essential for all organisms. This review discusses the current structural and functional models for the mechanically stimulated channel MscS, as well as the influence of certain membrane characteristics on gating.
The ability to cope with and adapt to changes in the environment is essential for all organisms. Osmotic pressure is a universal threat when environmental changes result in an imbalance of osmolytes inside and outside the cell which causes a deviation from the normal turgor. Cells have developed a potent system to deal with this stress in the form of mechanosensitive ion channels. Channel opening releases solutes from the cell and relieves the stress immediately. In bacteria, these channels directly sense the increased membrane tension caused by the enhanced turgor levels upon hypoosmotic shock. The mechanosensitive channel of small conductance, MscS, from Escherichia coli is one of the most extensively studied examples of mechanically stimulated channels. Different conformational states of this channel were obtained in various detergents and membrane mimetics, highlighting an intimate connection between the channel and its lipidic environment. Associated lipids occupy distinct locations and determine the conformational states of MscS. Not all these features are preserved in the larger MscS-like homologues. Recent structures of homologues from bacteria and plants identify common features and differences. This review discusses the current structural and functional models for MscS opening, as well as the influence of certain membrane characteristics on gating.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available