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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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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...
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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...
89.1K
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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The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

3.3K
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.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential....
3.3K
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

3.0K
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...
3.0K

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Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Ion Channels in Cancer: Characterization and Potential Treatment Approaches
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THE CONCISE GUIDE TO PHARMACOLOGY 2021/22: Ion channels.

Stephen Ph Alexander1, Alistair Mathie2, John A Peters3

  • 1School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.

British Journal of Pharmacology
|September 16, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The Concise Guide to Pharmacology 2021/22 offers a comprehensive overview of nearly 1900 human drug targets, including ion channels and G protein-coupled receptors. This biennial publication provides essential pharmacology data and links to an extensive online knowledgebase.

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Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Biomedical Sciences

Background:

  • The Concise Guide to Pharmacology is a biennial publication series.
  • It serves as a critical resource for understanding human drug targets and their properties.
  • Previous editions have been published in 2019/20, 2017/18, 2015/16, and 2013/14.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a concise, tabular overview of key properties for approximately 1900 human drug targets.
  • To emphasize selective pharmacology and link to the comprehensive online knowledgebase at www.guidetopharmacology.org.
  • To offer a permanent, citable record of drug target information as of mid-2021.

Main Methods:

  • Compilation of data on nearly 1900 human drug targets, categorized into six major groups: ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors, nuclear hormone receptors, catalytic receptors, enzymes, and transporters.
  • Presentation of information primarily in a tabular format with a landscape layout for easy comparison.
  • Inclusion of nomenclature guidance, summary information on pharmacological tools, key references, and suggestions for further reading.

Main Results:

  • The 2021/22 edition covers approximately 1900 human drug targets.
  • Information is presented concisely, with a focus on selective pharmacology where available.
  • The guide includes links to an open-access knowledgebase for more detailed information.

Conclusions:

  • The Concise Guide to Pharmacology 2021/22 is an essential, up-to-date reference for researchers and scientists in pharmacology and drug discovery.
  • It provides a valuable snapshot of human drug targets and their associated pharmacology.
  • The publication, in conjunction with NC-IUPHAR, ensures official IUPHAR classification and nomenclature for human drug targets.