[Intracellular ion channels: properties, function and experimental methodology]

Ion channels selective for potassium or chloride ions are present in membranes of intracellular organelles such as mitochondria, sarcoplasmic (endoplasmic) reticulum, nucleus, synaptic vesicles, and chromaffin, and zymogen granules. They are probably important in cellular events such as compensation of electrical charges during intracellular transport of Ca2+ and H+ and regulation of organelle volume changes. This review describes the basic properties, and current hypotheses concerning the functional role, and some aspects of experimental methodology of intracellular ion channels studies.