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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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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.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...
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Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

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Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
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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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Channel Rhodopsins01:11

Channel Rhodopsins

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Most organisms use photoreceptors to sense and respond to light. Examples of photoreceptors include bacteriorhodopsins and bacteriophytochromes in some bacteria, phytochromes in plants, and rhodopsins in the photoreceptor cells of the vertebral retina. The light-sensitive property of these receptors is because of the bound chromophores, such as bilin in the phytochromes and retinal in the rhodopsins.
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Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration01:27

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

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Calcium is an essential signaling molecule required for various cellular functions. Calcium pumps and ion channels on cell and organellar membranes, such as those on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulate calcium concentrations inside the cell. They remain closed, keeping the cytosolic calcium levels low at a resting state.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 18, 2025

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers
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Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers

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Prokaryotic mechanosensitive channels mediate copper influx.

Yara Ghnamah1, Caitlin D Palmer2, Nurit Livnat-Levanon1

  • 1Department of Molecular Microbiology and the Rappaport Institute for Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.

Protein Science : a Publication of the Protein Society
|June 26, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Mechanosensitive channels, like E. coli MscS, are crucial for prokaryotic copper uptake. These channels regulate copper influx, impacting cellular copper levels and sensitivity.

Keywords:
bacteriacopperion channelsmechanosensitive channelsmembrane permeationmetal homeostasisprokaryotestransport

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Copper is essential but toxic at high concentrations, necessitating regulated uptake.
  • Eukaryotic copper import is well-studied, but prokaryotic pathways remain largely unknown.
  • Mechanosensitive channels were not previously recognized for a role in nutrient transport.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel pathways for copper uptake in prokaryotes.
  • To investigate the role of mechanosensitive channels in prokaryotic copper homeostasis.
  • To determine if mechanosensitive channels have a moonlighting function in metal ion transport.

Main Methods:

  • Gene deletion and overexpression studies of the E. coli small mechanosensitive channel (EcMscS).
  • Measurement of copper influx and intracellular copper content.
  • Application of specific channel blockers and competing ions to assess copper conductance.
  • Comparative analysis of mechanosensitive channels from bacterial and archaeal species.

Main Results:

  • Deletion of EcMscS significantly reduced copper influx.
  • Overexpression of EcMscS increased intracellular copper and copper hypersensitivity.
  • Channel blockers and competing ions inhibited EcMscS-mediated copper transport.
  • Prokaryotic mechanosensitive channels from diverse species facilitate copper influx.

Conclusions:

  • Mechanosensitive channels play a critical, previously unrecognized role in prokaryotic copper uptake.
  • These channels exhibit a moonlighting function, mediating essential copper import.
  • Understanding this pathway is vital for prokaryotic copper homeostasis and survival.