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Updated: Jul 27, 2026
15:28
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
Summary
This review traces the evolutionary history of voltage-gated ion channels, essential for cellular electrical activity. Comparing diverse versions aids understanding of protein structure and function across all life forms.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Molecular biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Voltage-gated ion channels are crucial for electrical signaling in animals.
- These channels evolved from ancient protein families present across prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
- Understanding their evolutionary trajectory is key to deciphering their fundamental roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolutionary pathways of voltage-gated ion channels.
- To emphasize the evolution of potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and sodium (Na+) channels.
- To highlight the comparative approach for understanding protein structure and function.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis of ion channel protein families.
- Comparative genomics and structural biology approaches.
- Literature review of evolutionary studies on ion channels.
Main Results:
- Ion channels are ancient proteins found in all domains of life.
- Specific evolutionary pressures likely shaped the diversification of K+, Ca2+, and Na+ channels.
- Comparative studies reveal conserved and divergent features critical for channel function.
Conclusions:
- Voltage-gated ion channels have a deep evolutionary history.
- Studying diverse ion channel homologs enhances our understanding of their structure-function relationships.
- The evolutionary perspective provides insights into the fundamental biology of excitable cells.
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The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow specific...
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow specific...
01:24Non-gated Ion Channels
Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
01:19Ligand-gated Ion Channels
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Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
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01:24Non-gated Ion Channels
Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
01:26Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...