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Related Concept Videos

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...
Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins with a channel for ions to pass through and a binding site for a ligand. The channel opens only when a ligand attaches to the binding site.
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that include the...
Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins with a channel for ions to pass through and a binding site for a ligand. The channel opens only when a ligand attaches to the binding site.
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that include the...
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.
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 15, 2026

Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol
10:12

Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol

Published on: March 25, 2020

Cholesterol and ion channels.

Irena Levitan1, Yun Fang, Avia Rosenhouse-Dantsker

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. levitan@uic.edu

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry
|March 10, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Cholesterol significantly impacts ion channel function, often suppressing activity when levels rise. This review details cholesterol

Area of Science:

  • Membrane Biophysics
  • Molecular Physiology
  • Ion Channel Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cholesterol is a key membrane component influencing protein function.
  • Ion channels are critical for cellular electrical activity and signaling.
  • Cholesterol's role in ion channel regulation is complex and multifaceted.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review cholesterol's regulatory effects on major ion channel families.
  • To discuss proposed mechanisms underlying cholesterol-ion channel interactions.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview for researchers in the field.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating cholesterol-ion channel interactions.
  • Analysis of reported effects of cholesterol modulation on channel activity.

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Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol
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Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry

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  • Synthesis of proposed mechanistic models.

    • Main Results:

    • Increased membrane cholesterol typically suppresses activity of many ion channels (e.g., K+, Na+, Ca2+ channels).
    • Cholesterol depletion inhibits other channels (e.g., epithelial Na+, TRP channels).
    • Cholesterol affects channel kinetics, voltage dependence, and coupling to signaling cascades.

    Conclusions:

    • Cholesterol plays a diverse role in regulating ion channel function across all major families.
    • Mechanisms include direct protein interaction, alteration of membrane properties, and scaffolding roles.
    • Understanding these interactions is crucial for cellular electrophysiology and signaling.