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Related Concept Videos

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation01:28

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation

The action potential is a complex electrical event that occurs in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. It consists of several distinct phases, each with specific characteristics.
Resting Phase:
In this phase, the cell's membrane is at its resting potential, typically around -70 millivolts (mV) for neurons. Inside the cell, there is a higher concentration of potassium ions (K+) and a lower concentration of sodium ions (Na+). Voltage-gated sodium channels are closed, and...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
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.
Primary Active Transport01:29

Primary Active Transport

In contrast to passive transport, active transport involves a substance being moved through membranes in a direction against its concentration or electrochemical gradient. There are two types of active transport: primary active transport and secondary active transport. Primary active transport utilizes chemical energy from ATP to drive protein pumps embedded in the cell membrane. With energy from ATP, the pumps transport ions against their electrochemical gradients—a direction they would not...
Primary Active Transport01:47

Primary Active Transport

In contrast to passive transport, active transport involves a substance being moved through membranes in a direction against its concentration or electrochemical gradient. There are two types of active transport: primary active transport and secondary active transport. Primary active transport utilizes chemical energy from ATP to drive protein pumps that are embedded in the cell membrane. With energy from ATP, the pumps transport ions against their electrochemical gradients—a direction they...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes
10:19

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Published on: January 10, 2011

Potassium channel opening: a subtle two-step.

Sanjeev K Upadhyay1, P Nagarajan, M K Mathew

  • 1National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, UAS-GKVK Campus, Bangalore 560065, Karnataka, India.

The Journal of Physiology
|June 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Voltage-gated potassium channels are crucial for cellular excitability. This study proposes a new model where the open state is default, with an

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Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes
10:19

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Published on: January 10, 2011

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components
10:14

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

Published on: February 8, 2011

Reconstitution of a Transmembrane Protein, the Voltage-gated Ion Channel, KvAP, into Giant Unilamellar Vesicles for Microscopy and Patch Clamp Studies
11:42

Reconstitution of a Transmembrane Protein, the Voltage-gated Ion Channel, KvAP, into Giant Unilamellar Vesicles for Microscopy and Patch Clamp Studies

Published on: January 22, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv channels) regulate cellular excitability through voltage-dependent gating.
  • The open state of Kv channels is structurally characterized, but the closed state and gating mechanism remain debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose and validate a novel model for Kv channel gating.
  • To elucidate the transition mechanism from closed to open states.

Main Methods:

  • Site-directed mutagenesis of Kv channel genes.
  • Measurement of ionic and gating currents.
  • Analysis of electrophysiological data from wild-type and mutant channels.

Main Results:

  • A model where the open state is the default, stabilized in the closed state by the electric field.
  • Introduction of an 'Activated state' representing sensor movement without channel opening.
  • The model explains electrophysiology of specific mutations (V2, ILT) in Shaker channels, showing distinct voltage ranges for sensor movement and opening.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed model provides a framework for understanding Kv channel gating.
  • Kv channel opening involves minimal protein rearrangement from the activated to the open state.
  • This gating mechanism is consistent with rapid channel transitions observed experimentally.