Describe what type of amino acids would be used to line the

Describe what type of amino acids would be used to line the pore of a Na+ channel. Give one example.

Solution

The sodium ions are positively charged, so the interior of the ion channel must be negatively charged to allow the passage of ions. Thus, the channel is lined by the negatively charged amino acids that project their negative charged towards the channel interior. If the protein\'s primary structure contains more positively charged amino acids, the permeability of the channel for sodium ions decreases because similar charged repel each other.