title: Ion channels: from conductance to structure.
abstract: In this perspective I tell the story (albeit a clearly abridged version) of how our knowledge of ion conduction through ion channels has evolved from a purely electrical concept to a structural dynamics view of ions interacting with a membrane protein. Our progress in this field has shown steady growth over the years but has also been interspersed with sudden jumps of discovery. These leaps have normally been associated with the introduction of a new technical advance or the development of a new biological preparation; therefore, it is quite certain that we have not seen them all.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bezanilla
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium