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Related Concept Videos

Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

91.5K
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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The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

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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.
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....
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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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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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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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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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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

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Recent developments in alcoholism:neuronal ion channels

E Sanna1, R A Harris

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.

Recent Developments in Alcoholism : an Official Publication of the American Medical Society on Alcoholism, the Research Society on Alcoholism, and the National Council on Alcoholism
|January 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ethanol affects various ion channels, with effects varying by subtype and exposure duration. Research highlights subtype-specific ethanol sensitivity and genetic factors in alcohol

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The understanding of ion channel function has significantly advanced since 1987.
  • This progress has profoundly impacted the study of ethanol's effects on ion channels.
  • Numerous subtypes of ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels exist, with varying ethanol sensitivities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of ethanol's actions on diverse ion channel subtypes.
  • To explore the subtype-dependent sensitivity of ion channels to ethanol.
  • To examine the role of compensatory changes in ion channel function during chronic ethanol exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on ethanol's effects on ion channels.
  • Analysis of studies investigating subtype-specific ethanol sensitivity.
  • Examination of genetic approaches to understand ion channel involvement in ethanol actions.

Main Results:

  • Low ethanol concentrations inhibit glutamate-activated channels, particularly NMDA subtypes.
  • Acute ethanol exposure enhances the function of 5-HT3 and some GABA-activated channels.
  • Ethanol potently inhibits certain voltage-dependent calcium channels.
  • Chronic ethanol exposure can lead to compensatory changes in ion channel function, potentially contributing to tolerance and dependence.

Conclusions:

  • Ethanol's effects on ion channels are complex and highly subtype-dependent.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for comprehending ethanol's physiological and behavioral effects.
  • Genetic studies are vital for elucidating the role of ion channels in ethanol's actions and developing future research directions.