Lipid bilayers determine the allostery but not intrinsic affinity of cAMP binding to pacemaker channels.

A recent preprint abstract discusses the role of lipid bilayers in regulating the binding of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to pacemaker channels in the human heart. The study found that lipid membranes promote cooperative binding of cAMP to HCN channels without changing the intrinsic binding affinity. This research highlights the importance of lipid membranes in enhancing the gating sensitivity of ion channels. The preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]