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Voltage-Gated Ion Channels

Electrophysiological Approaches

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Protocols in Molecular Neurobiology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 13))

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Abstract

Ion channels are membrane-spanning protein molecules. They form pores or channels, through which ions flow down their electro- chemical gradients. Channels are characterized by two properties, selectivity and gating. Thus, the pore selects for one or a few ion species, allowing only these to permeate, and the pore can open and close in response to changes in the membrane voltage field, or to the binding of chemical transmitters. Because movement of ions through the pore can be measured by the electrical current they carry, it has been possible to study the functioning of these proteins with high resolution. Channel openings and closings, reflecting changes in protein con- formation, can be detected on the time scale of a few tens of microseconds in some cases, and over the past 10 years, methods allowing study of events in a singlechannel protein molecule have become widely used.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Leicester, U.K.

    Nicholas B. Standen & Peter R. Stanfield

Authors
  1. Nicholas B. Standen
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  2. Peter R. Stanfield
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK

    Alan Longstaff

  2. King’s College, University of London, UK

    Patricia Revest

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© 1992 The Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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Standen, N.B., Stanfield, P.R. (1992). Voltage-Gated Ion Channels. In: Longstaff, A., Revest, P. (eds) Protocols in Molecular Neurobiology. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 13. Springer, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-199-3:325

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-199-3:325

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-199-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-500-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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