title: Phylogeny of ion channels: clues to structure and function.
abstract: Voltage-gated ion channels are responsible for the electrical activity in a variety of cell types in modern-day animals. However, they represent the result of many millions of years of evolution of a family of ion channel proteins that are also found in prokaryotes and diverse eukaryotes, and probably exist in all life forms. This review traces the evolution of ion channels, with particular emphasis on the factors and evolutionary pathways that may have given rise to voltage-gated potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and sodium (Na+) channels. The review also highlights the utility of comparing phylogenetically distinct versions of the same protein as a means to better understand the structure and function of proteins.
authors.affiliation: Whitney Laboratory and Department of Physiology, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA. paa@whitney.ufl.edu
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D015222:Sodium Channels