Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: ClC4

Title: Discrete-state representation of ion permeation coupled to fast gating in a model of ClC chloride channels: comparison to multi-ion continuous space Brownian dynamics simulations.

Authors: Rob D Coalson, Mary Hongying Cheng

Journal, date & volume: J Phys Chem B, 2010 Jan 28 , 114, 1424-33

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20050590

Abstract
A discrete-state model of chloride ion motion in a ClC chloride channel is constructed, following a previously developed multi-ion continuous space model of the same system (Cheng, M. H.; Mamonov, A. B.; Dukes, J. W.; Coalson, R. D. J. Phys. Chem. B 2007, 111, 5956) that included a simplistic representation of the fast gate in this channel. The reducibility of the many-body continuous space to the eight discrete-state model considered in the present work is examined in detail by performing three-dimensional Brownian dynamics simulations of each allowed state-to-state transition in order to extract the appropriate rate constant for this process, and then inserting the pairwise rate constants thereby obtained into an appropriate set of kinetic master equations. Experimental properties of interest, including the rate of Cl(-) ion permeation through the open channel and the average rate of closing of the fast gate as a function of bulk Cl(-) ion concentrations in the intracellular and extracellular electrolyte reservoirs are computed. Good agreement is found between the results obtained via the eight discrete-state model versus the multi-ion continuous space model, thereby encouraging continued development of the discrete-state model to include more complex behaviors observed experimentally in these channels.