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Related Concept Videos

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 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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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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Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

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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.
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Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

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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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Mechanisms of Membrane-bending01:15

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The living membranes are flexible due to their fluid mosaic nature; however, their bending into different shapes is an active process regulated by specific lipids and proteins. The membrane bending can be transient as seen in vesicles or stable for a long time as in microvilli. Cells regulate the size, location, and duration of the membrane curvature.
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Invertebrate Bile Acid-Sensitive Ion Channels and Their Emergence in Bilateria.

Josep Martí-Solans1, Aina Børve2, Line Vevle1

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This study reveals the first functional evidence of invertebrate bile acid-sensing ion channels (BASICs), showing conserved and adapted roles across species. Invertebrate BASICs detect bile acids, suggesting ecological functions in environmental sensing.

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Area of Science:

  • Ion channel biology
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The Degenerin/epithelial sodium channel (DEG/ENaC) family includes bile acid-sensing ion channels (BASICs).
  • Mammalian BASICs are well-studied, but invertebrate BASICs remain largely unexplored.
  • Understanding invertebrate BASICs is crucial for evolutionary and functional insights.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide the first functional evidence of invertebrate BASICs.
  • To investigate the evolutionary adaptations and conserved features of BASICs across bilaterian species.
  • To explore the potential ecological roles of invertebrate BASICs.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological and pharmacological approaches were used to study invertebrate BASICs.
  • Species-specific bile acid sensitivity and responses to channel blockers were analyzed.
  • Mutagenesis of conserved residues (e.g., D444) confirmed their role in channel gating.

Main Results:

  • Invertebrate BASICs exhibit species-specific bile acid sensitivity and differential responses to amiloride and diminazene.
  • Shared properties include inhibition by calcium ions and selective sodium permeability.
  • Functional and phylogenetic analyses indicate BASICs evolved from bile acid-modulated channels to bile acid-activated channels early in bilaterian evolution.

Conclusions:

  • Invertebrate BASICs possess conserved and adapted functional properties, with evolutionary origins tracing back to early bilaterian ancestors.
  • Tissue-specific expression suggests roles in sodium absorption or environmental sensing of bile acid-like compounds.
  • Invertebrates may use BASICs to detect environmental compounds, impacting ecological interactions, as they lack endogenous bile acids.