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Related Concept Videos

Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

92.7K
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...
92.7K
Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

13.2K
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...
13.2K
Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

6.7K
6.7K
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

9.1K
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....
9.1K
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

4.4K
4.4K
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

8.1K
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...
8.1K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers
09:54

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers

Published on: November 19, 2015

11.3K

Bacterial Ion Channels.

Emma L R Compton, Joseph A Mindell

    Ecosal Plus
    |October 8, 2015
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Bacterial ion channels, including porins and toxins, are widespread across bacteria and archaea. This review explores four key groups, highlighting their diverse roles in nutrient transport, osmotic regulation, and inter-bacterial defense.

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    Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection
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    Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection

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    Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry
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    Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry

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    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Apr 1, 2026

    Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers
    09:54

    Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers

    Published on: November 19, 2015

    11.3K
    Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection
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    Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection

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    Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry
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    Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry

    Published on: September 28, 2016

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    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Biophysics
    • Molecular Biology

    Background:

    • Bacterial ion channels were previously recognized mainly in specific cases like outer membrane porins and toxins.
    • Recent genomic studies reveal widespread distribution of ion channel homologs across bacterial and archaeal species.
    • These channels play crucial roles in bacterial survival and interaction.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review the diverse types of bacterial ion channels.
    • To discuss the functions of porins, mechano-sensitive channels, channel-forming toxins, and bacterial homologs of mammalian channels.
    • To provide an overview of ion channel prevalence and importance in bacteria.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of existing literature and genomic data.
    • Analysis of functional roles of different bacterial channel types.
    • Focus on porins, mechano-sensitive (MS) channels, channel-forming toxins (colicins), and bacterial homologs of mammalian channels.

    Main Results:

    • Porins facilitate nutrient and ion transport across the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria.
    • Mechano-sensitive (MS) channels act as osmotic shock response valves, releasing solutes from the cytoplasm.
    • Channel-forming toxins, such as colicins, are employed by bacteria to kill other bacteria via pore formation.

    Conclusions:

    • Bacterial ion channels are diverse and essential for various cellular processes, including nutrient uptake, osmotic balance, and inter-bacterial competition.
    • The study of bacterial ion channels provides insights into fundamental biological mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
    • Genomic data confirms the widespread presence and functional significance of ion channels in the bacterial and archaeal domains.