Fig. 5.
Schematic representations of the conformational equilibria in GIRKCP and the GIRK chimera, and the effects of ethanol on the equilibria. GIRKCP exists in conformational equilibrium between the open and closed conformations of the G-loop gate, and ethanol shifts the conformational equilibrium to stabilize the G-loop gate in the open conformation. The populations of the two states in the absence and the presence of ethanol were calculated from the MQ CPMG RD and methyl-HDR experiments with GIRKCP, and from the peak positions of Ile270 and Il298 in the GIRK chimera.