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Related Concept Videos

Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

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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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Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

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Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

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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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Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation01:29

Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation

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Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...
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Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic01:25

Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic

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The pharmacological actions of acetylcholine are elicited via its binding to two families of cholinergic receptors or cholinoceptors, namely, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Muscarinic receptors are G protein-coupled receptors and have five subtypes, M1–M5. All mAChR subtypes are activated by acetylcholine and blocked by the antagonist, atropine. 
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+....
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Method for Identifying Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Protein-protein Interaction Between HCN1 and TRIP8b
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Method for Identifying Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Protein-protein Interaction Between HCN1 and TRIP8b

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Cholesterol pools cooperate to modulate HCN channels.

Ben Short1

  • 1Science Writer, Rockefeller University Press, New York, NY, USA.

The Journal of General Physiology
|April 24, 2026
PubMed
Summary

This study reveals how cholesterol affects pain signaling in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. These findings offer new mechanistic insights into pain modulation by cholesterol.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Cholesterol plays a role in neuronal function, but its specific mechanisms in pain sensation are not fully understood.
  • Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are critical for transmitting pain signals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanistic role of cholesterol in modulating pain sensation.
  • To elucidate how cholesterol influences the function of DRG neurons.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized electrophysiological recordings in DRG neurons.
  • Employed molecular biology techniques to assess cholesterol levels and function.
  • Investigated the impact of cholesterol manipulation on neuronal excitability.

Main Results:

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Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings for Electrophysiological Determination of Ion Selectivity in Channelrhodopsins
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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Method for Identifying Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Protein-protein Interaction Between HCN1 and TRIP8b
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Method for Identifying Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Protein-protein Interaction Between HCN1 and TRIP8b

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Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol
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Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings for Electrophysiological Determination of Ion Selectivity in Channelrhodopsins
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  • Demonstrated a direct link between cholesterol levels and the excitability of DRG neurons.
  • Identified specific molecular pathways through which cholesterol modulates pain signaling.
  • Showcased cholesterol's significant role in sensory neuron function.

Conclusions:

  • Cholesterol is a key modulator of pain sensation via its effects on DRG neurons.
  • Understanding these mechanisms could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for pain management.