Kcsa

Abstract

Ion conduction and selectivity properties of KcsA, a bacterial ion channel of known structure, were studied in a planar lipid bilayer system at the single-channel level. Selectivity sequences for permeant ions were determined by symmetrical solution conductance (K+ > Rb+, NH4+, Tl+ ≫ Cs+, Na+, Li+) and by reversal potentials under bi-ionic or mixed-ion conditions (Tl+ > K+ > Rb+ > NH4+ ≫ Na+, Li+). Determination of reversal potentials with submillivolt accuracy shows that K+ is over 150-fold more permeant than Na+. Variation of conductance with concentration under symmetrical salt conditions is complex, with at least two ion-binding processes revealing themselves: a high affinity process below 20 mM and a low affinity process over the range 100–1,000 mM. These properties are analogous to those seen in many eukaryotic K+ channels, and they establish KcsA as a faithful structural model for ion permeation in eukaryotic K+ channels.