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Molecular biology and biophysics of ion channels
Author(s) -
Keynes Richard D.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.950020303
Subject(s) - ion channel , gating , sodium channel , biophysics , voltage gated ion channel , stretch activated ion channel , acetylcholine receptor , membrane potential , light gated ion channel , membrane , electrophysiology , chemistry , biology , nanotechnology , materials science , sodium , neuroscience , receptor , biochemistry , organic chemistry
The transmission of electrical impulses in nerve and muscle cells depends fundamentally on the operation of specific ion channels in their membranes. Recent technical advances in electrical recording from cell membranes have permitted the analysis of the properties of single ion channels and the measurement of gating currents. The results have revealed considerable complexities, in particular in the operation of voltage‐gated sodium channels, and in the relationships between the several open and closed states of the channels. An important new development is the cloning and analysis of the structural genes for the acetylcholine receptor and sodium channel protein, which promises to yield fresh insights into the functioning of these proteins.