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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...
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...
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.
Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview01:21

Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview

An electrochemical gradient is a fundamental concept in biology and chemistry. It regulates the movement of ions across cell membranes. This movement is influenced by two factors:
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell.  This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Sedimentation Equilibrium of a Small Oligomer-forming Membrane Protein: Effect of Histidine Protonation on Pentameric Stability
09:49

Sedimentation Equilibrium of a Small Oligomer-forming Membrane Protein: Effect of Histidine Protonation on Pentameric Stability

Published on: April 2, 2015

Viral proteins function as ion channels.

Kai Wang1, Shiqi Xie, Bing Sun

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 225 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, China.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|May 19, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Viral ion channels, or viroporins, regulate virus replication and host cell functions. This review covers recent advances in understanding these viral proteins and their potential as drug targets.

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

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Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection
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Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection

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Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Sedimentation Equilibrium of a Small Oligomer-forming Membrane Protein: Effect of Histidine Protonation on Pentameric Stability
09:49

Sedimentation Equilibrium of a Small Oligomer-forming Membrane Protein: Effect of Histidine Protonation on Pentameric Stability

Published on: April 2, 2015

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

Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection
10:00

Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection

Published on: February 17, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Viral ion channels are small membrane proteins (50-120 amino acids).
  • They are crucial for virus replication (entry, assembly, release).
  • They also modulate host cell electrochemical balance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in viral ion channel proteins (viroporins).
  • To focus on their functions and mechanisms.
  • To discuss their potential as drug targets.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent advances.
  • Analysis of functions and mechanisms of specific viral ion channels.
  • Discussion of drug targeting potential.

Main Results:

  • Summary of recent findings on viroporins.
  • Detailed examination of specific examples: PBCV-1 KcV, influenza M2, HIV-1 Vpu, HCV p7, picornavirus 2B, and coronavirus E and 3a.
  • Identification of key functional roles and mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • Viral ion channels are essential for viral life cycles.
  • Understanding their mechanisms provides insights into viral pathogenesis.
  • Viroporins represent promising targets for antiviral drug development.