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The properties of ion channels formed by zervamicins

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Abstract

The zervamicins (Zrv) are a family of 16 residue peptaibol channel formers, related to the 20 residue peptaibol alamethicin (Alm), but containing a higher proportion of polar sidechains. Zrv-1113 forms multi-level channels in planar lipid (diphytanoyl phosphatidylcholine) bilayers in response to cis positive voltages. Analysis of the voltage and concentration dependence of macroscopic conductances induced by Zrv-IIB suggests that, on average, channels contain ca. 13 peptide monomers. Analysis of single channel conductance levels suggests a similar value. The pattern of successive conductance levels is consistent with a modified helix bundle model in which the higher order bundle are distorted within the plane of the bilayer towards a “torpedo” shaped cross-section. The kinetics of intro-burst switching between adjacent conductance levels are shown to be approximately an order of magnitude faster for Zrv-IIB than for Alm. The channel forming properties of the related naturally occurring peptaibols, Zrv-Leu and Zrv-IC, have also been demonstrated, as have those of the synthetic apolar analogue Zrv-Al-16. The experimental studies on channel formation are combined with the known crystallographic structures of Zrv-Al-16 and Zrv-Leu to develop a molecular model of Zrv-II3 channels.

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Abbreviations

Alm:

Alamethicin

Zrv:

Zervamicin

CFP:

Channel forming peptide

Aib:

α-aminoisobutyric acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, 560 012, Bangalore, India

    P. Balaram, K. Krishna & M. Sukumar

  2. Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, NG7 2RD, Nottingham, UK

    I. R. Mellor

  3. Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rex Richards Building, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3QU, Oxford, UK

    Mark S. P. Sansom

Authors
  1. P. Balaram
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  2. K. Krishna
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  3. M. Sukumar
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  4. I. R. Mellor
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  5. Mark S. P. Sansom
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Correspondence to: M. S. P. Sansom

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Balaram, P., Krishna, K., Sukumar, M. et al. The properties of ion channels formed by zervamicins. Eur Biophys J 21, 117–128 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00185426

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00185426

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