Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

87.3K
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...
87.3K
Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

8.4K
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...
8.4K
The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane01:28

The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane

3.5K
The inner mitochondrial membrane is the primary site of ATP synthesis. The inner membrane domain that forms a smooth layer adjacent to the outer membrane is called the inner boundary membrane. This domain contains membrane transporters that drive metabolites in and out of the mitochondria.  In contrast, the inner membrane network that invaginates into the matrix space is called the cristae membrane. This domain accounts for principle mitochondrial function as it accommodates the protein...
3.5K
Mitochondrial Membranes01:45

Mitochondrial Membranes

11.7K
A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...
11.7K
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

6.9K
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....
6.9K
Protein Transport into the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane01:34

Protein Transport into the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane

4.0K
Nuclear encoded mitochondrial precursors are imported to the inner membrane in a multistep process involving two separate translocons, TIM22 and TIM23. TIM23 is a cation-selective pore that remains closed by the N terminal segment of the protein. Negative charges on the TIM23 act as a receptor for the incoming precursor, pulling the positively charged matrix-targeting sequence for peptide insertion and translocation.
Transport of mitochondrial precursors across the TIM23 channel is driven by...
4.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Mitochondrial potassium channels: mitochondria-specific mechanism of regulation.

Biophysical reviews·2026
Same author

Targeting druggable ion channels to harness cancer cell mechanobiology for therapy.

Developmental cell·2026
Same author

The Effect of Aza-Glycine Substitution on the Internalization of Dabcyl-Containing Short Oligoarginine.

Biomedicines·2026
Same author

Penetratin an Old Player in the Field of Cell-Penetrating Peptides Is in New Custom-Effect of Aromatic Non-Natural Amino Acid Substitutions.

Pharmaceutics·2026
Same author

Mitochondria-Targeting Moieties Based on N-Tethered Pyridinium Cations.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026
Same author

Dibenzoylmethane, a novel β-diketone pore blocker of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same journal

A Tubules-First Model for the Origin of Eukaryotic Membrane Traffic.

Annual review of biophysics·2026
Same journal

Seeking Biology's Physics Stories: Simplify, Simplify.

Annual review of biophysics·2026
Same journal

Pattern Formation Beyond Turing: Physical Principles of Mass-Conserving Reaction-Diffusion Systems.

Annual review of biophysics·2026
Same journal

Rigidity and Mechanical Response in Biological Structures.

Annual review of biophysics·2026
Same journal

Systems Biology of Aging, Metabolism, and Mitochondria.

Annual review of biophysics·2026
Same journal

Ligand Binding Dynamics of Ion Channels and GPCRs Using Single-Molecule Fluorescence.

Annual review of biophysics·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess
07:35

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess

Published on: June 1, 2022

2.3K

Mitochondrial Ion Channels.

Ildiko Szabo1, Adam Szewczyk2

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Padova, Italy;

Annual Review of Biophysics
|May 9, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mitochondrial ion channels are crucial for cell function and life-or-death processes. Understanding their properties and regulation offers potential therapeutic targets for various diseases.

Keywords:
calcium channelschloride channelsmitochondriamitochondrial megachannelporinpotassium channels

More Related Videos

Inner Mitochondrial Membrane Sensitivity to Na+ Reveals Partially Segmented Functional CoQ Pools
05:27

Inner Mitochondrial Membrane Sensitivity to Na+ Reveals Partially Segmented Functional CoQ Pools

Published on: July 20, 2022

1.9K
The Use of the Patch-Clamp Technique to Study the Thermogenic Capacity of Mitochondria
11:05

The Use of the Patch-Clamp Technique to Study the Thermogenic Capacity of Mitochondria

Published on: May 3, 2021

3.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess
07:35

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess

Published on: June 1, 2022

2.3K
Inner Mitochondrial Membrane Sensitivity to Na+ Reveals Partially Segmented Functional CoQ Pools
05:27

Inner Mitochondrial Membrane Sensitivity to Na+ Reveals Partially Segmented Functional CoQ Pools

Published on: July 20, 2022

1.9K
The Use of the Patch-Clamp Technique to Study the Thermogenic Capacity of Mitochondria
11:05

The Use of the Patch-Clamp Technique to Study the Thermogenic Capacity of Mitochondria

Published on: May 3, 2021

3.9K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Mitochondria perform vital cellular functions including ATP synthesis, metabolism, and apoptosis regulation.
  • Mitochondrial function relies on the electrochemical proton gradient and inner mitochondrial membrane potential, maintained by ion transport.
  • Disrupted ion homeostasis in mitochondria leads to abnormal cellular functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review studies on animal mitochondrial ion channels.
  • To focus on their biophysical properties, molecular identity, and regulation.
  • To discuss their potential as therapeutic targets for diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on animal mitochondrial ion channels.
  • Analysis of biophysical properties, molecular identity, and regulatory mechanisms.
  • Exploration of therapeutic potential.

Main Results:

  • Mitochondrial ion channels significantly influence ion permeability across mitochondrial membranes.
  • These channels play key roles in cellular life and death pathways.
  • A growing body of research details their diverse functions and characteristics.

Conclusions:

  • Mitochondrial ion channels are critical regulators of cellular homeostasis and function.
  • Their unique properties present promising avenues for therapeutic interventions in various diseases.
  • Further research into mitochondrial ion channel mechanisms is warranted.