The Scientist : Potassium ions move like Newton's balls [2/11/2001]

Email: Tudor Toma - t.toma@ic.ac.uk
News from The Scientist 2001, 2(1):20011102-02

2 November 2001

Potassium (K⁺) channels are essential for the correct functioning of nerves and muscles. But the mechanism by which these tiny protein pores enable the extremely fast transfer of K⁺, whilst blocking the transfer of smaller ions such as sodium remains unknown. Three papers in 1 November Nature reveal, at the molecular level, how K⁺ channels proteins work and agree on a mathematical model of K⁺ flow across the cell membrane.

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