Dr. Lim, Carmay ’s Lab林小喬 博士 實驗室

Evolution of eukaryotic ion channels: Principles underlying the conversion of Ca2+-selective to Na+-selective channels.

Ion selectivity of four-domain voltage-gated Ca2+ and Na+ channels, which is controlled by the selectivity filter (the narrowest region of an open pore), is crucial for electrical signaling. Over billions of years of evolution, mutation of the Glu from domain II/III in the EEEE/DEEA selectivity filters of Ca2+-selective channels to Lys made these channels Na+-selective.