Synthetic proteins help solve structure of the fluoride ion channel

(University of Chicago Medical Center) Through the use of custom-engineered synthetic proteins known as monobodies, scientists have resolved the atomic structure of the fluoride ion channel, revealing a unique 'double-barreled' architecture that contains two pathways through which fluoride ions flow -- a potentially new mechanism of ion transport. The study, published in Nature, sheds light on the evolution of these channels and enables new approaches to modify their function, with potential app