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Non-gated Ion Channels

Non-gated Ion Channels

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.

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

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.

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

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...

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

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...

Non-gated Ion Channels

Non-gated Ion Channels

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.

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 23, 2026

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

Published on: February 8, 2011

Isolation, characterization, and mapping of two human potassium channels

K Su¹, H Kyaw, P Fan

¹Human Genome Sciences, Inc., Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

|January 22, 1998

Summary

Two novel human potassium channel genes, kH1 and kH2, were identified and characterized. These genes show homology to rat potassium channels and exhibit distinct tissue expression patterns and chromosomal localizations.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 23, 2026

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

Published on: February 8, 2011

Isolation and Kv Channel Recordings in Murine Atrial and Ventricular Cardiomyocytes

Isolation and Kv Channel Recordings in Murine Atrial and Ventricular Cardiomyocytes

Published on: March 12, 2013

Study of the Functions and Activities of Neuronal K-Cl Co-Transporter KCC2 Using Western Blotting

Study of the Functions and Activities of Neuronal K-Cl Co-Transporter KCC2 Using Western Blotting

Published on: December 9, 2022

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Neuroscience

Background:

Potassium channels are crucial for cellular electrical excitability.
Identification of novel potassium channel genes contributes to understanding their diverse physiological roles.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify and characterize novel human potassium channel genes.
To investigate the expression patterns and chromosomal localization of these newly discovered genes.

Main Methods:

Human fetal brain cDNA library screening.
Sequence analysis and homology comparison.
Northern blot analysis for mRNA expression.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization for gene localization.

Main Results:

Two novel human potassium channel genes, kH1 and kH2, were identified.
kH1 and kH2 show significant homology to rat potassium channels IK8 and K13, respectively.
Distinct mRNA expression patterns and alternative splicing were observed for kH1 and kH2 in various human tissues.
kH1 was localized to chromosome 2p25 and kH2 to chromosome 20q13.

Conclusions:

The discovery of kH1 and kH2 expands the repertoire of human potassium channels.
Differential expression and localization suggest specialized functions for these novel channels in human physiology.