Robinson CV, Rohacs T, Hansen SB. Tools for Understanding Nanoscale Lipid Regulation of Ion Channels.
Trends Biochem Sci 2019;
44:795-806. [PMID:
31060927 PMCID:
PMC6729126 DOI:
10.1016/j.tibs.2019.04.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Anionic phospholipids are minor but prominent components of the plasma membrane that are necessary for ion channel function. Their persistence in bulk membranes, in particular phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), initially suggested they act as channel cofactors. However, recent technologies have established an emerging system of nanoscale signaling to ion channels based on lipid compartmentalization (clustering), direct lipid binding, and local lipid dynamics that allow cells to harness lipid heterogeneity to gate ion channels. The new tools to study lipid binding are set to transform our view of the membrane and answer important questions surrounding ion channel-delimited processes such as mechanosensation.
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