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Related Concept Videos

Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

91.5K
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...
91.5K
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

8.3K
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....
8.3K
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

7.8K
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...
7.8K
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...
14.4K
Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

10.9K
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...
10.9K
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

5.8K
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...
5.8K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Functional Manipulation of Maternal Gene Products Using In Vitro Oocyte Maturation in Zebrafish
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Functional Manipulation of Maternal Gene Products Using In Vitro Oocyte Maturation in Zebrafish

Published on: April 22, 2017

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Ion Channel Function During Oocyte Maturation and Fertilization.

Ingrid Carvacho1, Matthias Piesche2, Thorsten J Maier3

  • 1Department of Biology and Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile.

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|July 13, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Oocyte maturation requires ion channel activity for fertilization competence. Studies in Xenopus oocytes illuminate the critical role of ion channels in mammalian reproductive success and early embryonic development.

Keywords:
Ca2+ signalingfertilizationion currentsmembrane potentialoocyte maturationpatch-clamp

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Patch Clamp Recording of Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes
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Patch Clamp Recording of Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes

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OP-IVM: Combining In vitro Maturation after Oocyte Retrieval with Gynecological Surgery
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OP-IVM: Combining In vitro Maturation after Oocyte Retrieval with Gynecological Surgery

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Functional Manipulation of Maternal Gene Products Using In Vitro Oocyte Maturation in Zebrafish
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Functional Manipulation of Maternal Gene Products Using In Vitro Oocyte Maturation in Zebrafish

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Patch Clamp Recording of Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes
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Patch Clamp Recording of Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes

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OP-IVM: Combining In vitro Maturation after Oocyte Retrieval with Gynecological Surgery
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OP-IVM: Combining In vitro Maturation after Oocyte Retrieval with Gynecological Surgery

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cellular Physiology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Oocyte maturation is crucial for fertilization and early embryonic development.
  • Immature oocytes arrested in meiosis I cannot support fertilization.
  • Maturation involves signaling pathway remodeling and organelle reorganization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of ion channels in oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development.
  • To highlight the importance of ion channel expression, distribution, and function for reproductive success.
  • To explore how Xenopus oocyte studies inform mammalian oocyte physiology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on ion channels in oocyte physiology.
  • Analysis of ion channel roles in membrane potential regulation and intracellular signaling.
  • Examination of calcium (Ca2+) channel functions in egg activation and development.

Main Results:

  • Oocyte maturation involves significant changes in plasma membrane electrical properties and ion channel activity.
  • Ion channels regulate membrane potential and critical signaling pathways, particularly calcium.
  • Calcium ions are essential activators of egg development, polyspermy block, and the egg-to-embryo transition.

Conclusions:

  • Ion channels are fundamental to successful oocyte maturation and fertilization.
  • Understanding ion channel dynamics is key to comprehending reproductive success.
  • Xenopus oocyte models provide valuable insights into mammalian oocyte ion channel function.