Lipid nanodisc scaffold and size alter the structure of a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel

Authors:
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Lipid nanodiscs have become a standard tool for studying membrane proteins, including using single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). We find that reconstituting the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (pLGIC), Erwinia ligand-gated ion channel (ELIC), in different nanodiscs produces distinct structures by cryo-EM. The effect of the nanodisc on ELIC structure extends to the extracellular domain and agonist binding site. Additionally, molecular dynamic simulations indicate that nanodiscs of different size impact ELIC structure and that the nanodisc scaffold directly interacts with ELIC. These findings suggest that the nanodisc plays a crucial role in determining the structure of pLGICs, and that reconstitution of ion channels in larger nanodiscs may better approximate a lipid membrane environment.
All Related Versions
Funding Information
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R35GM137957, F32GM139351)
  • Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research- Mentored Research Training Grant
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences

This publication has 60 references indexed in Scilit: