Synthetic proteins help solve structure of the fluoride ion channel
Monday, September 7, 2015 - 14:00
in Biology & Nature
This is a representation of the fluoride ion channel (center) with monobodies attached (top and bottom). Although present almost everywhere - food, soil, toothpaste and especially tap water -, the fluoride ion is highly toxic to microorganisms and cells. To avoid death, cells must remove fluoride that has accumulated inside them, a process accomplished via ion channels - protein tunnels through the cell membrane that only allow specific substances to pass through.