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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...
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...
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.
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...
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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Water inside the Selectivity Filter of a K<sup>+</sup> Ion Channel: Structural Heterogeneity, Picosecond Dynamics, and Hydrogen Bonding.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

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

Engineering K+ channels using semisynthesis.

Alexander G Komarov1, Corey A Costantino, Francis I Valiyaveetil

  • 1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|March 16, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a semisynthetic method to chemically modify the K(+) channel selectivity filter, overcoming limitations of traditional mutagenesis. This approach enables detailed investigation of ion channel function.

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Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond

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Last Updated: May 13, 2026

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

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

Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond
08:08

Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond

Published on: June 24, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Potassium channels are crucial for cellular function, selectively conducting K(+) ions.
  • The selectivity filter, composed of backbone carbonyl oxygens, dictates ion selectivity.
  • Site-directed mutagenesis is limited for studying the filter due to its protein backbone reliance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel semisynthetic approach for manipulating the K(+) channel selectivity filter.
  • To overcome the limitations of site-directed mutagenesis in studying the K(+) channel selectivity filter.
  • To provide protocols for the semisynthesis of the KcsA channel.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a semisynthetic strategy combining chemical synthesis with biological components.
  • Applied chemical synthesis to modify the selectivity filter of the KcsA potassium channel.
  • Detailed the protocols for performing the semisynthesis.

Main Results:

  • Successfully established a semisynthetic approach to manipulate the K(+) channel selectivity filter.
  • Demonstrated the utility of chemical synthesis for investigating the selectivity filter.
  • Provided reproducible protocols for KcsA channel semisynthesis.

Conclusions:

  • The developed semisynthetic method offers a powerful alternative to mutagenesis for studying K(+) channel selectivity filters.
  • This approach is anticipated to be applicable to other integral membrane proteins.
  • Facilitates deeper understanding of ion channel structure-function relationships.