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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.
[2] [3] Ion channels are one of the two classes of ionophoric proteins, the other being ion transporters. [4] The study of ion channels often involves biophysics, electrophysiology, and pharmacology, while using techniques including voltage clamp, patch clamp, immunohistochemistry, X-ray crystallography, fluoroscopy, and RT-PCR.
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.
Facilitated diffusion in cell membrane, showing ion channels and carrier proteins. Facilitated diffusion (also known as facilitated transport or passive-mediated transport) is the process of spontaneous passive transport (as opposed to active transport) of molecules or ions across a biological membrane via specific transmembrane integral proteins. [1]
C is the sodium channel . Sodium channels are integral membrane proteins that form ion channels, conducting sodium ions (Na +) through a cell's membrane. [1] [2] They belong to the superfamily of cation channels.
Several other transporters and ion channels play a role in generating a proton electrochemical gradient. One is TPK 3, a potassium channel that is activated by Ca 2+ and conducts K + from the thylakoid lumen to the stroma, which helps establish the electric field.
Examples of channel/carrier proteins include the GLUT 1 uniporter, sodium channels, and potassium channels. The solute carriers and atypical SLCs [1] are secondary active or facilitative transporters in humans. [2] [3] Collectively membrane transporters and channels are known as the transportome. [4]
The glucose transporter (GLUTs) is a type of uniporter responsible for the facilitated diffusion of glucose molecules across cell membranes. [9] Glucose is a vital energy source for most living cells, however, due to its large size, it cannot freely move through the cell membrane. [16]