Gating of Ion Channels

Abstract

Excitable cells, such as neurons and muscles, use ion channels to generate electrical and chemical signals that underlie their functions. Examples include the electrical signals underlying the complex neuronal circuitry in the brain, the secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters, skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction, and the signaling events that lead to fertility. Because of their pivotal role in cellular signaling and electrical excitability, a major goal in modern biology has been to determine the physical properties that control and modulate ion channel function. This chapter briefly reviews classical works about the gating of ion channels. Furthermore, it discusses some innovative approaches that when combined with biophysical and mathematical simulations have contributed to the current understanding of channel gating.