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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...
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...
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...
Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels01:09

Multi-pass Transmembrane Proteins and β-barrels

In multi-pass transmembrane proteins, the polypeptide chain crosses the membrane more than once. The transmembrane polypeptide chain either forms an α-helix or β-strand structure. α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins are ubiquitous, whereas β-strand containing ones are mainly found in gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
α-Helix containing multi-pass transmembrane proteins
Multi-pass transmembrane proteins such as G-protein-linked receptors (GPCRs) and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

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

Oligomerization at the membrane: potassium channel structure and function.

Oliver B Clarke1, Jacqueline M Gulbis

  • 1The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|September 6, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Potassium channels are integral membrane proteins crucial for electrical signaling. Their function relies on oligomerization, where multiple subunits form a tetramer to enable selective ion transport and respond to cellular signals.

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Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells
15:28

Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells

Published on: October 1, 2010

Single-Molecule Imaging of Lateral Mobility and Ion Channel Activity in Lipid Bilayers using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy
08:55

Single-Molecule Imaging of Lateral Mobility and Ion Channel Activity in Lipid Bilayers using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy

Published on: February 17, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 18, 2026

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

Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells
15:28

Mutagenesis and Functional Analysis of Ion Channels Heterologously Expressed in Mammalian Cells

Published on: October 1, 2010

Single-Molecule Imaging of Lateral Mobility and Ion Channel Activity in Lipid Bilayers using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy
08:55

Single-Molecule Imaging of Lateral Mobility and Ion Channel Activity in Lipid Bilayers using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy

Published on: February 17, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cell membranes act as barriers, creating distinct environments on either side.
  • Integral membrane proteins function within this lipid bilayer.
  • Potassium channels are vital for electrical signaling via selective ion transport.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of oligomerization in potassium channel function.
  • To understand how potassium channels interact with other proteins for regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Focus on the structural and functional aspects of potassium channels.
  • Analysis of subunit interfaces and hetero-oligomerization processes.

Main Results:

  • Individual potassium channel subunits are non-functional.
  • Conduction, selectivity, and gating depend on the tetrameric structure.
  • Hetero-oligomerization allows channels to integrate external signals.

Conclusions:

  • Oligomerization is fundamental to potassium channel activity.
  • Potassium channels utilize protein interactions to regulate their function and electrical signaling.