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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...
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.
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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 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

Ca(2+)-regulated ion channels.

Daniel H Cox1

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA, 02420, USA. dan.cox@tufts.edu

BMB Reports
|October 27, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Calcium ions (Ca2+) are vital intracellular signals. This review details the Ca2+-sensing mechanisms of three key ion channel types: large- and small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.

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Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry
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Whole-Cell Recording of Calcium Release-Activated Calcium (CRAC) Currents in Human T Lymphocytes

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Last Updated: May 28, 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

Whole-Cell Recording of Calcium Release-Activated Calcium (CRAC) Currents in Human T Lymphocytes
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Whole-Cell Recording of Calcium Release-Activated Calcium (CRAC) Currents in Human T Lymphocytes

Published on: December 21, 2010

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Physiology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Calcium ions (Ca2+) are crucial intracellular signaling molecules due to their concentration gradients.
  • Ca2+-sensing proteins, including ion channels, mediate cellular responses to Ca2+ signals.
  • Ca2+-sensitive ion channels regulate membrane electrical activity and Ca2+ influx.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the Ca2+ sensing mechanisms of three major classes of Ca2+-sensitive ion channels.
  • To highlight recent advancements in understanding these mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of Ca2+-sensitive ion channels.
  • Focus on mechanistic understanding of Ca2+ sensing.

Main Results:

  • Detailed description of Ca2+ sensing in Large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels.
  • Detailed description of Ca2+ sensing in Small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels.
  • Detailed description of Ca2+ sensing in Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.

Conclusions:

  • Significant progress has been made in elucidating the Ca2+ sensing mechanisms of these ion channels.
  • Understanding Ca2+ channel function is key to comprehending cellular signaling pathways.