Very recently, we  identified mutations in PANX1 causing familial female infertility characterized by oocyte death. In this letter, we present the cryo-EM structure of the human PANX1 channel and elaborate on its architecture and symmetry. The structure shows an unexpected heptameric assembly, which is completely different from existing evidence, suggesting that it forms a hexamer, and the molecular permeation through the channel seems to be controlled by residue W74 in the extracellular region. The determination of the PANX1 channel structure will lay foundation for mechanistic understanding of human disease-causing mutations in PANX1 in our previous study of channelopathy.

Title: Cryo-EM structure of human heptameric Pannexin 1 channel

Links: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41422-020-0298-5