The divalent cation-binding sites of gramicidin A transmembrane ion-channel

The conductance of the gramicidin A single channels in glycerolmonooleate membranes is strongly reduced in the presence of Mn2+ cations. The nmr experiments were performed for N-terminal to N-terminal gramicidin A dimer formed by two right-handed single-stranded helixes incorporated into the sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles in the presence of Mn2+ ions. Dependence of the nonselective spin-lattice relaxation rates of the gramicidin A protons on Mn2+ concentration was analyzed to determine coordinates of the divalent cation binding sites. It is inferred that Mn2+ ions are bound at the channel mouths at distances of 6.4, 8.6, and 8.8 Å (±2 Å) from the oxygen atoms of exposed carbonyl groups of D-Leu 12, 14, and 10, respectively. The bounded Mn2+ retains its hydrate shell, the size of which (≃ 6 Å) exceeds the inner pore diameter (≃ 4 Å). That makes the gramicidin A channel impermeable for divalent cations.