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Related Concept Videos

Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

10.7K
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.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
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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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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....
8.2K
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...
7.7K
Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

14.3K
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

5.7K
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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Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Ion Channels in Cancer: Characterization and Potential Treatment Approaches
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Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Ion Channels in Cancer: Characterization and Potential Treatment Approaches

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Ion channels: structural basis for function and disease

S A Goldstein1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.

Seminars in Perinatology
|December 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ion channels are vital proteins regulating nerve and muscle activity, cell signaling, and fluid balance. Gene cloning advances understanding of their function, diseases, and therapeutic potential.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Physiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Ion channels are essential transmembrane proteins critical for numerous physiological processes.
  • Their function underpins nervous system activity, muscle contraction, and maintaining ionic homeostasis.
  • Dysfunction of ion channels is implicated in a growing spectrum of human diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significance of ion channel research in understanding fundamental biological mechanisms.
  • To underscore the impact of gene cloning on elucidating ion channel function.
  • To explore the implications of these advances for disease pathology and therapeutic development.

Main Methods:

  • Gene cloning techniques were employed to isolate and study ion channel genes.
  • Mechanistic studies were conducted to understand the functional basis of ion channels.
  • Comparative analysis was performed to link ion channel function to physiological and pathological states.

Main Results:

  • The cloning of ion channel genes has significantly advanced the understanding of their molecular mechanisms.
  • These studies have elucidated the role of ion channels in normal physiological functions.
  • The research has clarified the molecular underpinnings of various diseases associated with ion channel dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • Advances in ion channel research, particularly through gene cloning, have revolutionized the field.
  • Understanding ion channel function is crucial for comprehending both normal physiology and disease states.
  • This knowledge provides a foundation for developing targeted therapeutic strategies for ion channel-related disorders.