title: Structure and function of voltage-gated ion channels.
abstract: Voltage-gated ion channels are responsible for generation of electrical signals in cell membranes. Their principal subunits are members of a gene family and can function as voltage-gated ion channels by themselves. They are expressed in association with one or more auxiliary subunits which increase functional expression and modify the functional properties of the principal subunits. Structural elements that are required for voltage-dependent activation, selective ion conductance, and inactivation have been identified, and their mechanisms of action are being explored through mutagenesis, expression in heterologous cells, and functional analysis. These experiments reveal that this family of channels is built upon a common structural theme with variations appropriate for functional specialization of each channel type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Catterall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D015394:Molecular Structure; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D015222:Sodium Channels