Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

Identification of Specific Sensory Neuron Populations for Study of Expressed Ion Channels
Published on: December 24, 2013
Approaches to cloning of pain-related ion channel genes
1Department of Endodontics, Dental School, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Abstract:
Molecular pain research is a relatively new and rapidly expanding field that represents advancement in conventional pain research. One of the fundamentals of molecular pain involves the cloning of genes and especially the ion channels specifically involved in nociceptive processing at the periphery and centrally. A variety of approaches were used to isolate these critically important genes. Cloning of these genes involved innovative strategies based on existing molecular approaches. This review will discuss well-utilized cloning approaches and their exploitation in molecular pain research.
Related Concept Videos
Non-gated Ion Channels
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Patch Clamp
In this method, a glass micropipette containing electrolyte solution is tightly sealed against a small portion of the cell membrane. As a result, a patch of the cell...
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
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 Channels
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...

