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Updated: Jul 27, 2026

Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells
Published on: October 1, 2010
Phylogeny of ion channels: clues to structure and function
1Whitney Laboratory and Department of Physiology, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA. paa@whitney.ufl.edu
Abstract:
Voltage-gated ion channels are responsible for the electrical activity in a variety of cell types in modern-day animals. However, they represent the result of many millions of years of evolution of a family of ion channel proteins that are also found in prokaryotes and diverse eukaryotes, and probably exist in all life forms. This review traces the evolution of ion channels, with particular emphasis on the factors and evolutionary pathways that may have given rise to voltage-gated potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and sodium (Na+) channels. The review also highlights the utility of comparing phylogenetically distinct versions of the same protein as a means to better understand the structure and function of proteins.
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