1 Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are neuronal sodium-selective channels activated by reductions 2 in extracellular pH. Structures of the three presumptive functional states, high-pH resting, low-3 pH desensitized, and toxin-stabilized open, have all been solved for chicken ASIC1. These 4 structures, along with prior functional data, suggest that the isomerization or flipping of the β11-5 12 linker in the extracellular, ligand-binding domain is an integral component of the 6 desensitization process.To test this, we combined fast perfusion electrophysiology, molecular 7 dynamics simulations and state-dependent non-canonical amino acid cross-linking. We find that 8 both desensitization and recovery can be accelerated by orders of magnitude by mutating resides 9 in this linker or the surrounding region. Furthermore, desensitization can be suppressed by 10 trapping the linker in the resting state, indicating that isomerization of the β11-12 linker is not 11 merely a consequence of, but a necessity for the desensitization process in ASICs. 12