title: Recent advances in ion channel research.
abstract: The field of ion channels has entered into a rapid phase of development in the last few years, partly due to the breakthroughs in determination of the crystal structures of membrane proteins and advances in computer simulations of biomolecules. These advances have finally enabled the long-dreamed goal of relating function of a channel to its underlying molecular structure. Here we present simplified accounts of the competing permeation theories and then discuss their application to the potassium, gramicidin A and calcium channels.
authors.affiliation: Protein Dynamics Unit, Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. shin-ho.chung@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Shin Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuyucak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins