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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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Ion Channels01:19

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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...
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Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

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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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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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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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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Demonstration of Proteolytic Activation of the Epithelial Sodium Channel ENaC by Combining Current Measurements with Detection of Cleavage Fragments
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Demonstration of Proteolytic Activation of the Epithelial Sodium Channel ENaC by Combining Current Measurements with Detection of Cleavage Fragments

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Epithelial Na + Channels Function as Extracellular Sensors.

Ossama B Kashlan1,2, Xue-Ping Wang1, Shaohu Sheng1

  • 1Departments of Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte Division, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Comprehensive Physiology
|August 7, 2024
PubMed
Summary

The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) senses its external environment through protein allostery. This review details how proteases, ions, and shear stress regulate ENaC, impacting fluid balance and disease.

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A Fluorescence-Based Assay of Membrane Potential for High-Throughput Functional Study of Two Endogenous Ion Channels in Two Epithelial Cell Lines
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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Demonstration of Proteolytic Activation of the Epithelial Sodium Channel ENaC by Combining Current Measurements with Detection of Cleavage Fragments
08:56

Demonstration of Proteolytic Activation of the Epithelial Sodium Channel ENaC by Combining Current Measurements with Detection of Cleavage Fragments

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Functional Characterization of Na+/H+ Exchangers of Intracellular Compartments Using Proton-killing Selection to Express Them at the Plasma Membrane
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Functional Characterization of Na+/H+ Exchangers of Intracellular Compartments Using Proton-killing Selection to Express Them at the Plasma Membrane

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A Fluorescence-Based Assay of Membrane Potential for High-Throughput Functional Study of Two Endogenous Ion Channels in Two Epithelial Cell Lines
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A Fluorescence-Based Assay of Membrane Potential for High-Throughput Functional Study of Two Endogenous Ion Channels in Two Epithelial Cell Lines

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Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is crucial for fluid homeostasis.
  • ENaC is located on vertebrate epithelial surfaces.
  • ENaC's sensitivity to its external environment is well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate mechanisms of ENaC regulation by external factors.
  • To highlight structural insights into ENaC function.
  • To review ENaC's role in physiology and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on ENaC regulation.
  • Analysis of structural studies of ENaC and related channels.
  • Discussion of protein allostery in ENaC function.

Main Results:

  • External factors like proteases, ions, and shear stress directly regulate ENaC.
  • Protein allostery is central to ENaC's environmental sensing.
  • Regulation mechanisms and their physiological/pathophysiological implications are detailed.

Conclusions:

  • ENaC's function is intricately linked to its extracellular environment.
  • Understanding ENaC regulation is key to addressing related diseases.
  • Structural and mechanistic insights advance ENaC research.