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Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs), also known as voltage-dependent sodium channels (VDSCs), are a group of voltage-gated ion channels found in the membrane of excitable cells (e.g., muscle, glial cells, neurons, etc.) with a permeability to the sodium ion Na +. They are the main channels involved in action potential of excitable cells.
Sodium channels are highly selective for the transport of ions across cell membranes. The high selectivity with respect to the sodium ion is achieved in many different ways. All involve encapsulation of the sodium ion in a cavity of specific size within a larger molecule. [3]
Voltage-gated ion channels are often specific to ions, including Na +, K +, Ca 2+, and Cl −. Each of these ions plays an important role in the electrical behavior of the cell. [9] The gates also have unique properties with important physiological implications. For example, Na + channels open and close rapidly, while K + gates open and close ...
b) Potassium (K +) ion. c) Sodium channel. d) Potassium channel. e) Sodium-potassium pump. In the stages of an action potential, the permeability of the membrane of the neuron changes. At the resting state (1), sodium and potassium ions have limited ability to pass through the membrane, and the neuron has a net negative charge inside.
Ion channels may be classified by gating, i.e. what opens and closes the channels. For example, voltage-gated ion channels open or close depending on the voltage gradient across the plasma membrane, while ligand-gated ion channels open or close depending on binding of ligands to the channel. [14]
Sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 9 (also Na v 1.7) is a sodium ion channel that, in humans, is encoded by the SCN9A gene. [5] [6] [7] It is usually expressed at high levels in two types of neurons: the nociceptive (pain) neurons at the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and trigeminal ganglion; and sympathetic ganglion neurons, which are part of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system.
When an ion channel opens and there is a net gain of positively charged ions, like sodium (Na +) and calcium (Ca 2+), that flow into the cell, this creates excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) that depolarize the cell membrane increasing the likelihood of an action potential by bringing the neuron's potential closer to its firing threshold ...
Voltage-gated ion-channels are usually ion-specific, and channels specific to sodium (Na +), potassium (K +), calcium (Ca 2+), and chloride (Cl −) ions have been identified. [1] The opening and closing of the channels are triggered by changing ion concentration, and hence charge gradient, between the sides of the cell membrane.