Scientists analyze the hd structure of ion channels associated with eye disease

cell membrane ion channel plays an important role in maintaining the normal physiological function of cells. Heart disease, cancer, blindness, and other diseases can occur when ion channels are out of order or mutated. Recently, for the first time, Shen Yin, a professor at Wuhan University People's Hospital, and his team analyzed an ion channel structure closely related to a variety of eye diseases: Bestrophin-2. The study was published online April 6 in Nature-Structural Molecular Biology.
Bestrophin-2 has specific expressions in retinal non-pigment epithelat cells, which are associated with intraocular pressure regulation and are potential drug targets for the treatment of glare. The researchers obtained the channel's bovine source HD 3D structure with a resolution of 2.2 meters, which is by far the most analytical membrane protein structure. "This is also the first mammalian Bestrophin family esothropois structure that has been parsed." Shen said. The ion channel family is regulated by calcium ions, mainly mediated chlorine and bicarbonate root and other negatively charged negative ions in and out of the cell, and the cell internal and external charge balance, osmotic pressure regulation and the removal of metabolic by-products are closely related.
looking at the three-dimensional structure of Bestrophin-2, the team found that there were two "valves" on the ion channel, one of which had a 19th aperture largeer than chlorine ions. Because of this, Bestrophin-2 also allows chlorine ions to pass freely without activation, but larger-diameter ions such as iodine ions do not pass through. "This is very different from the case of Bestrophin-1, which is completely calcium-free and does not pass through chlorine ions." "As a result, Bestrophin-2's gate-controlled channel mechanism is better suited to regulate larger anions such as bicarbonate roots than chlorine, " Shen said. "
study sheds light on the structure and function of the ion channel Bestrophin-2, providing a theoretical basis for drug screening for the Bestrophin ion channel family." We hope that in the near future, specific targeted drugs associated with this channel family can be found and used in the clinical treatment of ovulated macular degeneration and glaucosis. Zhao Qingqing, co-first author of the paper and a graduate student at Wuhan University People's Hospital, told China Science Daily. (Source: Ren Fangyan, China Science Journal)
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