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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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.
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.
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Reconstitution of a Kv Channel into Lipid Membranes for Structural and Functional Studies
10:22

Reconstitution of a Kv Channel into Lipid Membranes for Structural and Functional Studies

Published on: July 13, 2013

Semisynthesis of K+ channels.

Alexander G Komarov1, Kellie M Linn, Jordan J Devereaux

  • 1Program in Chemical Biology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Methods in Enzymology
|July 28, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Semisynthesis enables chemical modification of potassium (K+) channel selectivity filters, overcoming limitations of traditional mutagenesis. This approach allows for the introduction of probes to study ion channel function.

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Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells

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Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Reconstitution of a Kv Channel into Lipid Membranes for Structural and Functional Studies
10:22

Reconstitution of a Kv Channel into Lipid Membranes for Structural and Functional Studies

Published on: July 13, 2013

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

Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells
15:28

Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells

Published on: October 1, 2010

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Potassium (K+) channels are crucial for cellular function, relying on selectivity filters for K+ ion transport and sodium (Na+) ion rejection.
  • The selectivity filter's structure, formed by protein backbone carbonyl oxygens, prevents traditional site-directed mutagenesis for experimental manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe protocols for the semisynthesis of the bacterial K+ channel, KcsA.
  • To demonstrate the introduction of a spectroscopic probe into KcsA using semisynthesis.
  • To review prior applications of semisynthesis in K+ channel research.

Main Methods:

  • Semisynthesis approach combining chemical synthesis with biological methods.
  • Application of developed protocols to the KcsA K+ channel.
  • Introduction of a spectroscopic probe into the KcsA channel.

Main Results:

  • Successful implementation of semisynthesis protocols for KcsA.
  • Demonstration of spectroscopic probe incorporation into the KcsA selectivity filter.
  • Review of successful past applications of semisynthesis for K+ channel studies.

Conclusions:

  • Semisynthesis is a viable method for manipulating K+ channel selectivity filters, overcoming mutagenesis limitations.
  • The described protocols are applicable to KcsA and potentially other integral membrane proteins.
  • This technique facilitates advanced studies on ion channel structure and function.