Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-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.
The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-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.
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...
Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-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...
Regulation of Sodium and Potassium01:26

Regulation of Sodium and Potassium

The regulation of sodium and potassium ion concentrations in the human body is a complex process governed primarily by hormones such as aldosterone, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).
Sodium Regulation
Sodium ions make up approximately 90% of extracellular cations, with a normal blood plasma concentration of 136–148 mEq/L. A decrease in blood volume and pressure triggers the release of renin from granular cells in the juxtaglomerular complex (JGC), primarily in...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Inhibition of (interstitial) P2Y<sub>6</sub> receptors attenuates fibrosis progression.

Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology·2026
Same author

Inhibition of (interstitial) P2Y<sub>6</sub> receptors attenuates fibrosis progression.

Research square·2026
Same author

Opening closed inward rectifier potassium channel doors.

British journal of pharmacology·2026
Same author

Inhibition of (interstitial) P2Y<sub>6</sub> receptors attenuates renal fibrosis progression.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Light-induced analgesia provides a drug-free optical method for pain relief via activation of TRAAK k<sup>+</sup> channels.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

SPARC: a structural pathogenicity algorithm for risk classification of hERG variants.

Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Protein Purification Technique that Allows Detection of Sumoylation and Ubiquitination of Budding Yeast Kinetochore Proteins Ndc10 and Ndc80
12:28

Protein Purification Technique that Allows Detection of Sumoylation and Ubiquitination of Budding Yeast Kinetochore Proteins Ndc10 and Ndc80

Published on: May 3, 2015

Does sumoylation control K2P1/TWIK1 background K+ channels?

Sylvain Feliciangeli1, Saïd Bendahhou, Guillaume Sandoz

  • 1Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS UMR6097, Institut Paul Hamel, 660, route des lucioles, 06560 Valbonne, France.

Cell
|August 19, 2007
PubMed
Summary

A novel model suggests cell excitability is regulated by K2P1 channel sumoylation. Mutating a specific site (K274E) increased K2P1 current, indicating a charge effect, not sumoylation.

More Related Videos

In Vitro SUMOylation Assay to Study SUMO E3 Ligase Activity
09:45

In Vitro SUMOylation Assay to Study SUMO E3 Ligase Activity

Published on: January 29, 2018

Study of the Functions and Activities of Neuronal K-Cl Co-Transporter KCC2 Using Western Blotting
10:08

Study of the Functions and Activities of Neuronal K-Cl Co-Transporter KCC2 Using Western Blotting

Published on: December 9, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Protein Purification Technique that Allows Detection of Sumoylation and Ubiquitination of Budding Yeast Kinetochore Proteins Ndc10 and Ndc80
12:28

Protein Purification Technique that Allows Detection of Sumoylation and Ubiquitination of Budding Yeast Kinetochore Proteins Ndc10 and Ndc80

Published on: May 3, 2015

In Vitro SUMOylation Assay to Study SUMO E3 Ligase Activity
09:45

In Vitro SUMOylation Assay to Study SUMO E3 Ligase Activity

Published on: January 29, 2018

Study of the Functions and Activities of Neuronal K-Cl Co-Transporter KCC2 Using Western Blotting
10:08

Study of the Functions and Activities of Neuronal K-Cl Co-Transporter KCC2 Using Western Blotting

Published on: December 9, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Ion Channel Physiology

Background:

  • Cell excitability is crucial for neuronal function.
  • The background potassium channel K2P1 (TWIK1) is implicated in regulating cell excitability.
  • Sumoylation has been proposed as a regulatory mechanism for K2P1 channels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of sumoylation at K274 in K2P1 channel regulation.
  • To determine if K274 sumoylation affects K2P1 channel current density.
  • To explore the mechanism behind K2P1 channel regulation by K274.

Main Methods:

  • Site-directed mutagenesis of the K2P1 channel at position 274 (K274E and K274R).
  • Heterologous expression of wild-type and mutant K2P1 channels in COS-7 cells.
  • Two-electrode voltage clamp recordings in Xenopus oocytes.
  • Western blot analysis to detect potential sumoylation.

Main Results:

  • Mutation K274E, but not K274R, significantly increased K2P1 current density.
  • The observed increase in current density suggests a charge-dependent effect at position 274.
  • Western blot analysis did not provide evidence for K2P1 sumoylation in either COS-7 cells or oocytes.

Conclusions:

  • The K274 residue in K2P1 channels influences current density through a charge effect, not via sumoylation.
  • The proposed model of K2P1 channel silencing by sumoylation requires re-evaluation.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms regulating K2P1 channel activity.