2. Introduction:
ο Ion channels are membrane proteins that allow ions to pass
through the Ion (channel) pore.
Their functions include establishing a
ο Resting Membrane Potential,
ο Action Potentials
ο Other Electrical Signals by regulating the flow of ions across the
cell membrane.
3. ο Ions transport through channels is extremely rapid.
ο More than a million ions per second flow through open channels-
a flow rate approximately a thousand times greater than the
rate of transport by carrier proteins.
4. ο Most ion channels are highly selective in allowing only one
particular type of ion to pass through the pore.
ο Most of the ion channels that have been identified can exist in
either an open or a closed conformation; such channels are said
to be gated.
5. ο The Important Gated ion channels are:
ο Ligand-gated channels
ο Voltage-gated channels
ο Ligand-gated channels open in response to the binding of
neurotransmitters or other signaling molecules.
ο Voltage-gated channels open in response to changes in electric
potential across the plasma membrane.
7. Ligand-gated channels:
ο Ligand-gated ion channels (Protein pores), also commonly referred
as ionotropic receptors, are a group of transmembrane ion-channel
proteins.
ο Which open to allow ions such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Clβ to pass
through the membrane in response to the binding of a chemical
messenger (i.e. a ligand), such as a neurotransmitter.
ο The fundamental role of ion channels in the transmission of
electric impulses.
8.
9.
10. ο Neurotransmitters released from presynaptic cells bind to
receptors on the membranes of postsynaptic cells, where they act
to open ligand-gated ion channels.
ο Binding of acetylcholine opens a channel that is permeable to
both Na+.
ο
ο This permits the rapid influx of Na+, which depolarizes the
plasma membrane and triggers an action potential.
11. ο Due to influx of Na+ ions the fluid become more positive inside
of the cell these leads to depolarization of the plasma membrane.
12. ο Depolarization of the plasma membrane allows action potentials
to travel down the length of nerve cell axons as electric signals,
ο Resulting in the rapid transmission of nerve impulses over long
distances.
ο The arrival of action potentials at the terminus of neurons release
of neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, which carry signals
between synapse and cells.
ο
14. ο Voltage-gated ion channels are a class of transmembrane proteins
that are activated by changes in the electrical membrane potential
near the channel.
ο The membrane potential alters the conformation changes of the
Ion channels, regulating their opening and closing.
15. ο Voltage-gated ion-channels found along the length of the axon and
muscles tissues.
ο Voltage-gated ion-channels are permeable to sodium (Na+),
potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and chloride (Clβ) ions have been
identified.
16. Different types of Voltage gated Channels:
ο Sodium (Na+) channels
ο Calcium (Ca2+) channels
ο Potassium (K+) channels
ο Chloride (Clβ) channels
19. For example:
ο Voltage-gated ion-channels actively pumped out Na+ ions from the
cell and pumps K+ ions into cells.
ο Therefore, in the axon the concentration of Na+ is about 10 times
higher in extracellular fluids than inside the cell.
ο Whereas the concentration of K+ is approximately 20 times higher
in the cytosol than in the surrounding medium.
20. ο Their transport results in the establishment of an electric potential
(gradient) across the plasma membrane.
ο In resting axons there is an electric potential of about - 60 mV
across the plasma membrane, with the inside of the cell negative
with respect to the outside.
ο The flow of K+ through these channels makes the major
contribution to the resting membrane potential of -60 m V, which is
therefore close to the K+ equilibrium potential.
21. ο Binding of neurotransmitter results allows Na+ to flow into the
cell.
ο The sudden entry of Na+ leads to a large change in membrane
potential, which increases to nearly +30 m V.
ο At this time, the Na+ channels are inactivated and voltage-gated
K+ channels open, substantially increasing the permeability of the
membrane to K+.
22. ο K+ then flows rapidly out of the cell, driven by both the
membrane potential and the K+ concentration gradient, leading to
a rapid decrease in membrane potential to about - 75 mV.
ο This change in membrane potential inactivates the voltage-gated
K+ channels and the membrane potential returns to its resting
level of -60 m V.
ο .
23. ο Depolarization of adjacent regions of the plasma membrane
allows action potentials to travel down the length of nerve cell
axons as electric signals.
ο Resulting in the rapid transmission of nerve impulses over long
distances