Ion binding properties and structure stability of the NaK channel

Ion distribution in the selectivity filter and ion–water and ion–protein interactions of NaK channel are systematically investigated by all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, with the tetramer channel protein being embedded in a solvated phospholipid bilayer. Analysis of the simulation results indicates that K+ ions prefer to bind within the sites formed by two adjacent planes of oxygen atoms from the selectivity filter, while Na+ ions are inclined to bind to a single plane of four oxygen atoms. At the same time, both K+ and Na+ ions can diffuse in the vestibule, accompanying with movements of the water molecules confined in a complex formed by the vestibule together with four small grottos connecting to it. As a result, K+ ions show a wide range of coordination numbers (6–8), while Na+ ions display a constant coordination number of ∼ 6 in the selectivity filter, which may result in the loss of selectivity of NaK. It is also found that a Ca2+ can bind at the extracellular site as reported in the crystal structure in a partially hydrated state, or at a higher site in a full hydration state. Furthermore, the carbonyl group of Asp66 can reorient to point towards the center pore when an ion exists in the vestibule, while that of Gly65 always aligns tangentially to the channel axis, as in the crystallographic structures.