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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...
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...
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 12, 2026

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording
13:07

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

Published on: June 9, 2014

Introduction to ion channels.

Chiara Di Resta1, Andrea Becchetti

  • 1Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2.20126 Milano, Italy.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|June 17, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ion channels are integral membrane proteins controlling ion flow through gating. This chapter introduces their physiology and structural features, particularly those linked to integrin receptors.

More Related Videos

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

Published on: February 17, 2017

Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry
11:32

Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry

Published on: September 28, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording
13:07

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

Published on: June 9, 2014

Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection
10:00

Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection

Published on: February 17, 2017

Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry
11:32

Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry

Published on: September 28, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Physiology

Background:

  • Ion channels are integral membrane proteins facilitating ion transport across cell membranes.
  • Their gating mechanism (switching between open and closed states) regulates ion flux.
  • These channels are crucial for cellular functions including membrane potential, excitability, muscle contraction, and exocytosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an introduction to the physiological aspects of ion channels for molecular biologists.
  • To summarize the structural and functional characteristics of ion channel proteins associated with integrin receptors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing knowledge on ion channel physiology.
  • Compilation of structural and functional data for channel proteins related to integrin receptors.

Main Results:

  • Detailed overview of ion channel gating mechanisms (ligand, voltage, mechanical stimuli).
  • Explanation of intracellular regulation of gating efficacy, inactivation, and desensitization.
  • Summary of diverse ion channel types and their selectivity.
  • Identification and description of ion channel proteins linked to integrin receptors.

Conclusions:

  • Ion channels are fundamental to numerous cellular processes, regulating ion fluxes and membrane potential.
  • Understanding the structure-function relationship of ion channels, especially those interacting with integrin receptors, is vital for further research.