Ions and blockers in potassium channels: insights from free energy simulations

Potassium ion channels enable efficient and selective permeation of K+ ions across nonpolar biological membranes. Here we review the results of recent free energy calculations related to the permeation of monovalent cations through K+ channels and to the channel inhibition by blocker compounds. In particular, the progress in computational studies of the bacterial KcsA channel is discussed.