Voltage-gated Ion Channel - Structure

Structure

They generally are composed of several subunits arranged in such a way that there is a central pore through which ions can travel down their electrochemical gradients. The channels tend to be ion-specific, although similarly sized and charged ions may sometimes travel through them.

Examples include:

  • the sodium and potassium voltage-gated channels of nerve and muscle.
  • the voltage-gated calcium channels that play a role in neurotransmitter release in pre-synaptic nerve endings.

Read more about this topic:  Voltage-gated Ion Channel

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