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Related Concept Videos

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

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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.
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Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

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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

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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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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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Methods for Investigating TRP Channel Gating.

Osvaldo Alvarez1,2, Karen Castillo3, Emerson Carmona3

  • 1Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. oalvarez@uchile.cl.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|April 28, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Researchers precisely measured the absolute open probability of the TRPM8 channel, a key temperature and voltage-activated ion channel, across extensive voltage and temperature ranges.

Keywords:
Gating mechanismNoise analysisOocytes extractionPatch clampPipette pullingTRP channelsTRPM8Temperature controlXenopus care

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Area of Science:

  • Ion channel biophysics
  • Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels
  • Molecular physiology

Background:

  • Accurate characterization of TRP channel gating is crucial for understanding cellular responses to temperature and voltage.
  • Previous studies have faced limitations in precisely determining absolute open channel probabilities under diverse conditions.
  • TRPM8 channels are important targets for studying cold sensation and pain pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To precisely determine the absolute open channel probability of the TRPM8 channel.
  • To establish reliable methods for characterizing TRP channel gating across wide ranges of physiological parameters.
  • To provide a comprehensive dataset for TRPM8 channel behavior under varying temperature, voltage, and agonist conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system for robust TRPM8 channel expression.
  • Employed patch-clamp electrophysiology to record ionic currents.
  • Developed precise temperature control systems and applied extensive voltage protocols (up to 500 mV).
  • Detailed animal care and experimental procedures for reproducible results.

Main Results:

  • Achieved a complete characterization of TRPM8 channel gating.
  • Obtained reliable measurements of absolute open channel probabilities over an extensive range.
  • Demonstrated the feasibility of measurements under unprecedented applied voltages.
  • Established robust protocols for future TRP channel gating studies.

Conclusions:

  • The study successfully determined the absolute open channel probability of TRPM8 channels.
  • The developed methodologies enable precise characterization of temperature- and voltage-activated TRP channel gating.
  • This work provides a foundation for understanding TRPM8 channel function in physiological and pathological contexts.