1.D.311. The Core Module K+ Channel (CMKC) Family
Different types of natural K+ channels share similar core modules and cation permeability characteristics. Xin et al. 2023 developed novel artificial K+ channels by rebuilding the core modules of natural K+ channels in artificial systems. These channels displayed high selectivity for K+ over Na+ and exhibited a selectivity sequence of K+ ≈ Rb+ during the transport process, which is consistent with the cation permeability characteristics of natural K+ channels. These artificial channels could be efficiently inserted into cell membranes and mediated the transmembrane transport of K+ , disrupting the cellular K+ homeostasis and eventually triggering the apoptosis of cells. These findings demonstrate that, by rebuilding the core modules of natural K+ channels in artificial systems, the structures, transport behaviors, and physiological functions of natural K+ channels can be mimicked in synthetic channels (Xin et al. 2023).