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

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...
Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

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...
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.
Energy to Drive Translocation01:37

Energy to Drive Translocation

Mitochondrial protein import is powered by two distinct energy sources: ATP hydrolysis and electrochemical potential across the inner membrane. Newly synthesized precursors are bound by cytosolic chaperones of the Hsp70 family, which guide them to the import receptors on the mitochondrial surface. Utilizing the energy of ATP hydrolysis, Hsp70 chaperones transfer these precursors to the TOM receptors on the mitochondrial outer membrane.
Generally, polypeptides are unfolded by two distinct...
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.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

An inner-pore mutation (F315D) promotes intracellular Mg<sup>2+</sup> block and inward rectification of BK channels.

Biochimica et biophysica acta. Biomembranes·2026
Same author

Mitochondrial potassium channels: mitochondria-specific mechanism of regulation.

Biophysical reviews·2026
Same author

Loss of Potassium and Chloride Transport Changes PM-Induced Epithelial Dysfunction.

Journal of inflammation research·2026
Same author

Expression of DNA-damage response genes after exposure to high LET particles used in BNCT in glioblastoma cells with altered radiosensitivity.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Human Gastrointestinal Models-Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025
Same author

Potential therapeutic targeting of BK<sub>Ca</sub> channels in glioblastoma treatment.

Molecular oncology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain
11:20

Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain

Published on: May 7, 2018

Potassium channels in brain mitochondria.

Piotr Bednarczyk1

  • 1Department of Biophysics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, Warsaw, Poland. piotr_bednarczyk@sggw.pl

Acta Biochimica Polonica
|September 18, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Brain mitochondrial potassium channels, like mitoK(ATP) and mitoBK(Ca), are crucial for neuroprotection and treating neurological diseases. Further research aims to identify their specific molecular targets for therapeutic development.

More Related Videos

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess
07:35

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess

Published on: June 1, 2022

Analysis of Brain Mitochondria Using Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy
07:47

Analysis of Brain Mitochondria Using Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy

Published on: July 9, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain
11:20

Making, Testing, and Using Potassium Ion Selective Microelectrodes in Tissue Slices of Adult Brain

Published on: May 7, 2018

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess
07:35

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess

Published on: June 1, 2022

Analysis of Brain Mitochondria Using Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy
07:47

Analysis of Brain Mitochondria Using Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy

Published on: July 9, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Potassium channels are vital transmembrane proteins involved in cellular functions and diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
  • Mitochondrial potassium channels regulate key cellular processes including membrane potential, respiration, and ion homeostasis.
  • These channels are implicated in therapeutic areas such as anaesthesia, cardioprotection, and neuroprotection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current data on brain mitochondrial potassium channels.
  • To explore the molecular correlates and therapeutic potential of these channels.
  • To discuss the role of mitochondrial potassium channels in neuroprotection and ischemic preconditioning.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on mitochondrial potassium channels.
  • Analysis of identified potassium channel subtypes in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
  • Examination of research on the effects of potassium flux on neuronal survival.

Main Results:

  • Several potassium channel types, including mitoK(ATP), mitoBK(Ca), mitoIK(Ca), mitoKv1.3, and mitoTASK-3, are present in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
  • Increased potassium flux via mitoK(ATP) or mitoBK(Ca) channels benefits neuronal survival under pathological conditions.
  • Differential distribution of mitoBK(Ca) channels in neuronal mitochondria suggests specific neuroprotective roles.

Conclusions:

  • Brain mitochondrial potassium channels are significant therapeutic targets for neurological disorders.
  • MitoBK(Ca) channels show promise for neuroprotection in specific brain regions.
  • Further identification of molecular correlates is essential for developing targeted pharmacological agents.