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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.
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...
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.

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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

Going native: voltage-gated potassium channels controlling neuronal excitability.

Jamie Johnston1, Ian D Forsythe, Conny Kopp-Scheinpflug

  • 1MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 9HN, UK.

The Journal of Physiology
|June 4, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv) are crucial for auditory brainstem neuron function. Different Kv channel families in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) precisely control action potential firing for sound localization.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Auditory System Physiology
  • Ion Channel Biology

Background:

  • Voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv) are essential for neuronal excitability.
  • The auditory brainstem, particularly the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), relies on precise neuronal firing for sound localization.
  • Identifying native Kv conductances in neurons is challenging due to gene and subunit diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a physiological perspective on the role of Kv channels in MNTB neurons.
  • To offer a pharmacological and biophysical profile for identifying common Kv channel families.
  • To elucidate the specific roles of different Kv conductances in MNTB function.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Kv channel physiology and pharmacology.
  • Analysis of the MNTB's role as an auditory relay nucleus.
  • Examination of Kv channel contributions to action potential (AP) firing characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Kv1 channels raise the AP firing threshold.
  • Kv2 channels influence AP repolarization and affect inter-AP membrane potential during high-frequency firing.
  • Kv3 channels accelerate AP repolarization, impacting firing fidelity, duration, rate, and temporal jitter.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct Kv channel families (Kv1, Kv2, Kv3) play specific roles in MNTB neurons, shaping AP firing.
  • These channels are critical for the fidelity of auditory information processing and sound localization.
  • Activity-dependent phosphorylation of Kv channels suggests a dynamic role for intracellular signaling in neuronal excitability and homeostasis.