Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Non-gated Ion Channels

Non-gated Ion Channels

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.

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

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.

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

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...

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

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...

Non-gated Ion Channels

Non-gated Ion Channels

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.

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Otto Fritz Meyerhof and Muscle Biochemistry.

The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India..·2025

Same author

Enzymes and Virus Protein Pioneers.

The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India·2025

Same author

Barbara McClintock and Cytogenetics.

The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India·2025

Same author

Nikola Tesla-Father of Our Energy Systems.

The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India·2024

Same author

Max Delbruck: Founder of Molecular Genetics.

The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India·2024

Same author

Synthesizing Vitamins: Karrer and Howard.

The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Patch Clamp Recording of Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes

Patch Clamp Recording of Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes

Published on: October 16, 2008

Neher and Sakmann: Single Ion Channels.

J V Pai-Dhungat¹

¹Professor of Medicine (Retd), Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Yamunabai Laxman Nair Charitable Hospital; Honorary Physician, Bhatia Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India

|May 13, 2024

Summary

Cell membrane permeability is key to biological functions. Research by Hodgkin, Huxley, Neher, and Sakmann revealed how ion channels and membrane proteins regulate molecular and ion flow, impacting health and disease.

More Related Videos

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

Published on: February 8, 2011

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

Published on: June 9, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Patch Clamp Recording of Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes

Patch Clamp Recording of Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes

Published on: October 16, 2008

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

Published on: February 8, 2011

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

Published on: June 9, 2014

Area of Science:

Cellular Biology
Neuroscience
Biophysics

Background:

Cell membrane permeability is fundamental to most biological functions.
Early work by Hodgkin and Huxley (1963 Nobel Prize) elucidated macroscopic current regulation in nerve cells.
Understanding molecular and ion transport across cell membranes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the discovery of specific ion channels.
To explain the role of membrane proteins as regulators of transport.
To connect these mechanisms to physiological and pathological processes.

Main Methods:

Macroscopic current recordings (Hodgkin and Huxley).
Identification and characterization of specific ion channels (Neher and Sakmann).
Investigation of membrane protein function in transport regulation.

Main Results:

Demonstrated the existence of specific ion channels.
Established membrane proteins as key regulators (gates/transporters) of cellular transport.
Linked ion channel and transporter function to biological regulation.

Conclusions:

Specific ion channels and membrane proteins are critical for regulating cell membrane permeability.
These mechanisms are essential for normal physiological processes.
Dysregulation of these channels and proteins contributes to pathological conditions.