Structure and function of Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus-1 encoded K+ channel Kcv

• Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Gerhard Thiel
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Pflanzenphysiologie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2002 bis 2006
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 5366982

Kcv is the first K+ channel found in a virus. It is also the smallest and most primitive of all known K+ channels. The 94 amino acid lon peptide is encoded by the double stranded DNA virus PBVC-1 and is essential for viral replication. In heterologous expression systems the protein shows characteristic features known from other more complex K+ channels. These include ion selectivity, voltage dependency and selective block. The combination of structural simplicity and functional complexity makes this channel a promising model system for the detection of minimal structural requirements of functional K+ channels. For this purpose we will exploit the known high selective pressure exerted on viral genomes, which has given rise to a broad family of naturally occurring K+ channel homologues. Molecular analysis and electrophysiological characterization of the homologues will identify conserved residues/domains, which constitute hallmarks of diverse channel functions and structure.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen