Ion channels

Ion channels are gated pores that let specific ions such as potassium, sodium or calcium cross the cell membrane. They generate nerve impulses, heartbeats and muscle contraction, and sense heat, touch and chemical signals. The KcsA potassium channel structure explained for the first time how a channel can be both fast and highly selective.

Open KcsA potassium channel in 3D

26 structures

KcsA potassium channel1BL8
Recognized by the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (Roderick MacKinnon).
KcsA potassium channel in high potassium1K4C
KvAP voltage-gated potassium channel1ORQ
Kv1.2 voltage-gated potassium channel2A79
Kv1.2-Kv2.1 paddle chimera channel2R9R
Human TRAAK potassium channel4WFE
NavAb bacterial sodium channel3RVY
Cockroach voltage-gated sodium channel (NavPaS)5X0M
Human Nav1.2 sodium channel with a cone snail toxin6J8E
Cav1.1 voltage-gated calcium channel5GJV
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor2BG9
GLIC, a bacterial pentameric ligand-gated channel3EAM
Serotonin 5-HT3 receptor4PIR
AMPA-type glutamate receptor3KG2
NMDA receptor (GluN1/GluN2B)4PE5
TRPV1 heat and capsaicin receptor3J5P
TRPV1 senses heat and the spicy compound in chili peppers (2021 Nobel Prize in Medicine).
TRPV1 in a lipid nanodisc5IRZ
Piezo1 mechanosensitive channel6B3R
MscL mechanosensitive channel2OAR
MscS mechanosensitive channel2OAU
Chicken acid-sensing ion channel 12QTS
Zebrafish P2X4 ATP-gated channel3H9V
CFTR chloride channel5UAK
Human hERG potassium channel (AlphaFold)Q12809 (AlphaFold)
Human Nav1.5 sodium channel (AlphaFold)Q14524 (AlphaFold)
Human Nav1.7 pain sodium channel (AlphaFold)Q15858 (AlphaFold)

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