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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...
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.

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Updated: May 31, 2026

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes
10:19

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Published on: January 10, 2011

Phospholamban generates cation selective ion channels.

Serena Smeazzetto1, Indra Schröder, Gerhard Thiel

  • 1Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|June 21, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Phospholamban (PLN) proteins may function as ion channels, influencing cardiac muscle contractility. This study provides evidence for inherent channel activity of PLN, impacting calcium regulation in myocytes.

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Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes
10:19

Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Published on: January 10, 2011

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

Capturing the Interaction Kinetics of an Ion Channel Protein with Small Molecules by the Bio-layer Interferometry Assay
10:41

Capturing the Interaction Kinetics of an Ion Channel Protein with Small Molecules by the Bio-layer Interferometry Assay

Published on: March 7, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Phospholamban (PLN) regulates cardiac myocyte contractility by modulating SERCA activity.
  • The precise molecular mechanism of PLN action remains unclear despite structural data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether phospholamban (PLN) proteins possess intrinsic ion channel activity.
  • To elucidate the role of PLN in ion transport across membranes.

Main Methods:

  • Reconstitution of purified PLN proteins into planar lipid bilayers.
  • Electrophysiological recordings to analyze single channel fluctuations.
  • Utilizing a PLN-specific antibody (abPLN) to probe channel function.

Main Results:

  • PLN reconstitution demonstrated single channel fluctuations with distinct conductance levels.
  • Observed long open/closed dwell times and moderate selectivity for monovalent cations.
  • No significant calcium (Ca2+) permeability was detected.
  • PLN-specific antibody (abPLN) successfully inhibited the observed channel activity.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that phospholamban (PLN) can intrinsically form ion channels.
  • This inherent channel activity may contribute to the regulation of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) in cardiac myocytes.
  • PLN's function as an ion channel offers a new perspective on its role in cardiac physiology.