Multivalent ions control the transport through lysenin channels

We report the effect of different ions on the conducting properties of lysenin channels inserted into planar lipid bilayer membranes. Our observations indicated that multivalent ions inhibited the lysenin channels conductance in a concentration dependent manner. The analysis performed on single channels revealed that multivalent ions induced reversible sub-conducting or closed states depending on the ionic charge and size. Good agreement is reported between experimental results and a theoretical model that is proposed to describe the interaction between divalent ions and lysenin channels as a simple isothermal absorption process.

Graphical AbstractResearch Highlights►Trivalent metal ions switch the lysenin channels in the closed state. ►Divalent metal ions force the lysenin channels in a stable sub-conducting state. ►The closing pathway in the presence of multivalent ions depends on the ionic size and charge.