Ion Channel
Ion channels are pore-forming proteins that help establish and control the voltage gradient across the plasma membrane of cells (see membrane potential) by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient. They are present in the membranes that surround all biological cells. The study of ion channels involves many scientific techniques such as voltage clamp electrophysiology (in particular patch clamp), immunohistochemistry, and RT-PCR.
Read more about Ion Channel: Basic Features, Biological Role, Diversity, Detailed Structure, Diseases of Ion Channels, History, The Ion Channel in Fine Art
Famous quotes containing the word channel:
“Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)