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Related Concept Videos

Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

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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...
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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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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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Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

14.4K
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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G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

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GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Single-Cell Calcium Imaging for Studying the Activation of Calcium Ion Channels
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Single-Cell Calcium Imaging for Studying the Activation of Calcium Ion Channels

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Mechanically activated ion channels.

Boris Martinac1, Kate Poole2

  • 1Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|February 23, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cells sense and respond to physical forces using specialized sensors like the PIEZO1, PIEZO2, and TRPV4 ion channels. Understanding these mechanically activated channels is crucial for comprehending cell biology and disease.

Keywords:
Mechanically activated ion channelsMechanotransductionPIEZO1PIEZO2TRPV4

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Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Biophysics
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Cellular mechanical sensing is vital for biological processes.
  • Mechanically activated ion channels (e.g., PIEZO1, PIEZO2, TRPV4) convert physical forces into biochemical signals.
  • These channels play critical roles in cellular function and organismal health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the fundamental mechanisms of cellular mechanotransduction.
  • To highlight the physiological significance of mechanically activated ion channels.
  • To address the challenges in characterizing these channels in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on mechanotransduction.
  • Analysis of studies on PIEZO1, PIEZO2, and TRPV4 ion channels.
  • Discussion of experimental approaches and their limitations.

Main Results:

  • Mechanically activated ion channels are key mediators of cellular responses to physical stimuli.
  • Diverse channelopathies linked to these channels underscore their importance.
  • Challenges remain in fully elucidating in vivo activation and regulation.

Conclusions:

  • Mechanically activated ion channels are essential for cellular communication with the physical environment.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand their complex roles and regulation.
  • Targeting these channels holds potential for therapeutic interventions.