Structure of a sodium channel inactivation gate in complex with calcium-bound calmodulin.

March 7, 2012

Properly-functioning voltage-gated sodium channels are critical to the normal contraction and relaxation of heart muscle cells. Calcium ions bound to another protein called calmodulin can modulate these channels. Researchers have used data obtained at the CMCF to solve the 1.35 Å structure of calcium-bound calmodulin in complex with the inactivation gate of a sodium channel. Several mutations near the calmodulin binding site have been identified which result in arrhythmias or other physiological problems. View the full CLS press release here.