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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

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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

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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...
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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An emerging consensus on voltage-dependent gating from computational modeling and molecular dynamics simulations.

Ernesto Vargas1, Vladimir Yarov-Yarovoy, Fatemeh Khalili-Araghi

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

The Journal of General Physiology
|November 28, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Understanding voltage-gated ion channel mechanisms requires knowing their resting structure. Computational modeling and molecular dynamics simulations are providing this missing atomic-level information, revealing an emerging consensus on channel gating.

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Area of Science:

  • Structural biology
  • Computational biophysics
  • Ion channel electrophysiology

Background:

  • Voltage-gated ion channels are crucial for cellular electrical signaling.
  • The active-state conformation of these channels is known from X-ray crystallography.
  • An atomic-resolution structure of the resting state remains elusive.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To computationally model the resting-state conformation of voltage-gated ion channels.
  • To provide atomic-level structural insights into channel gating mechanisms.
  • To establish a consensus on voltage-dependent gating through simulations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing computational modeling techniques.
  • Performing molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
  • Comparing and synthesizing results from recent computational studies.

Main Results:

  • Emerging consensus on the structural basis of voltage-dependent gating.
  • Computational models and MD simulations offer insights into the resting state.
  • Progress in understanding ion channel conformational changes.

Conclusions:

  • Computational approaches are vital for elucidating ion channel structures.
  • MD simulations are key to understanding the resting state of voltage-gated channels.
  • This work advances the molecular understanding of ion channel function.