title: Introduction to ion channels.
abstract: Ion channels are integral membrane proteins that contain pathways through which ions can flow. By shifting between closed and open conformational states ('gating' process), they control passive ion flow through the plasma membrane. Channels can be gated by membrane potential, or specific ligands, or other agents, such as mechanical stimuli. The efficacy of the gating process and the kinetics of subsequent inactivation or desensitization are regulated by intracellular mechanisms. Many types of membrane channels exist, with different degrees of ion selectivity. By controlling ion fluxes, they typically regulate membrane potential and excitability, shape the action potential, trigger muscle contraction and exocytosis (through Ca2+ influx), regulate cell volume and many other cellular processes. In the first part of the chapter, we give a brief introduction to the main physiological aspects of ion channels, which may not be familiar to molecular biologists. Subsequently, as a reference for later chapters, we summarize the main structural and functional features of the channel-proteins presently known to be related to integrin receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2.20126 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Resta
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becchetti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels