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Related Concept Videos

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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Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview01:21

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An electrochemical gradient is a fundamental concept in biology and chemistry. It regulates the movement of ions across cell membranes. This movement is influenced by two factors:
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell.  This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to...
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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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The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

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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.
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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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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.
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Biophysical Properties of Somatic Cancer Mutations in the S4 Transmembrane Segment of the Human Voltage-Gated Proton Channel hH<sub>V</sub>1.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Purification and Reconstitution of TRPV1 for Spectroscopic Analysis
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Purification and Reconstitution of TRPV1 for Spectroscopic Analysis

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Transcendent Aspects of Proton Channels.

Thomas E DeCoursey1

  • 1Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, USA;

Annual Review of Physiology
|November 6, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Biological proton channels use unique hydrogen-bonded pathways for selective proton (H+) transport. These channels regulate cellular pH, membrane potential, and electrical charge, highlighting their diverse physiological roles.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Proton-selective ion channels are rare but crucial biological components.
  • Proton (H+) conduction differs significantly from other ions due to unique chemical properties.
  • Existing channels exhibit diverse activation mechanisms, including voltage, pH, and light sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review common features of biological proton channels.
  • To explore the unique properties of protons influencing channel function.
  • To summarize the diverse functions of proton channels based on chemical and electrical consequences of proton flux.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on proton-selective ion channels.
  • Analysis of proton pathway structures, focusing on hydrogen-bonded chains and titratable amino acid residues.
Keywords:
HVCN1ion channelspH

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  • Examination of the chemical and electrical effects of proton flux in various cell types.

    • Main Results:

    • Proton selectivity is achieved via specialized pathways, often involving hydrogen-bonded chains with titratable amino acid side chains.
    • Proton channels exhibit diverse functions, including pH regulation (intracellular and extracellular), membrane potential control, action potential generation, and charge compensation.
    • The review highlights common principles underlying proton channel operation despite their varied phylogenetic distribution.

    Conclusions:

    • Proton channels are essential for fundamental cellular processes.
    • The unique properties of protons necessitate specialized transport mechanisms.
    • Understanding proton channel function provides insights into cellular electrochemistry and physiology.