Permeating disciplines: Overcoming barriers between molecular simulations and classical structure-function approaches in biological ion transport.
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Howard RJ, Carnevale V, Delemotte L, Hellmich UA, Rothberg BS
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes 1860 (4) 927-942 [2018-04-00; online 2017-12-16]
Ion translocation across biological barriers is a fundamental requirement for life. In many cases, controlling this process-for example with neuroactive drugs-demands an understanding of rapid and reversible structural changes in membrane-embedded proteins, including ion channels and transporters. Classical approaches to electrophysiology and structural biology have provided valuable insights into several such proteins over macroscopic, often discontinuous scales of space and time. Integrating these observations into meaningful mechanistic models now relies increasingly on computational methods, particularly molecular dynamics simulations, while surfacing important challenges in data management and conceptual alignment. Here, we seek to provide contemporary context, concrete examples, and a look to the future for bridging disciplinary gaps in biological ion transport. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Beyond the Structure-Function Horizon of Membrane Proteins edited by Ute Hellmich, Rupak Doshi and Benjamin McIlwain.
PubMed 29258839
DOI 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.12.013
Crossref 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.12.013
pii: S0005-2736(17)30405-4
pmc: PMC6317864
mid: NIHMS930807