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Related Concept Videos

Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

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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...
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Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

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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...
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Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

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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...
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Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

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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...
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The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

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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.
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Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Expression and Purification of the Human Lipid-sensitive Cation Channel TRPC3 for Structural Determination by Single-particle Cryo-electron Microscopy
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Expression and Purification of the Human Lipid-sensitive Cation Channel TRPC3 for Structural Determination by Single-particle Cryo-electron Microscopy

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Structural basis for conductance through TRIC cation channels.

Min Su1,2, Feng Gao1,2, Qi Yuan3

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.

Nature Communications
|May 20, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers revealed the structure of TRIC channels, identifying them as symmetrical trimers. Cation binding along the three-fold axis regulates these ion channels, crucial for cellular calcium and potassium transport.

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

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Expression and Purification of the Human Lipid-sensitive Cation Channel TRPC3 for Structural Determination by Single-particle Cryo-electron Microscopy
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Purification and Reconstitution of TRPV1 for Spectroscopic Analysis
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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Physiology

Background:

  • Mammalian TRIC channels are potassium-permeable cation channels vital for calcium ion (Ca2+) transport in intracellular stores.
  • Understanding the structure and function of TRIC channels is crucial for elucidating cellular ion homeostasis mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the high-resolution structures of prokaryotic TRIC channel homologues, archaeal SaTRIC and bacterial CpTRIC.
  • To elucidate the gating mechanism and allosteric regulation of TRIC channels.

Main Methods:

  • X-ray crystallography was used to determine the structures of SaTRIC and CpTRIC.
  • Electrophysiology and site-directed mutagenesis were employed to investigate channel function and regulation.

Main Results:

  • TRIC channels are symmetrical trimers, each protomer containing a transmembrane pore.
  • The pore structure features kinked helices and a water-filled channel, regulated by a C-terminal hydrogen bond network.
  • Cation binding to conserved residues along the three-fold axis was identified as the likely mechanism for channel gating.

Conclusions:

  • Prokaryotic TRIC channels share structural and functional similarities with their mammalian counterparts.
  • The three-fold axis plays a critical role in the allosteric regulation and gating of TRIC channels.
  • These findings provide a structural basis for understanding TRIC channel function and potential therapeutic targeting.