Ion Channels act as the brains of the cell, allowing ions to flow in and out of the cell. They are integral membrane proteins that form pores in the cell membrane, allowing specific ions to pass through. Ion channels are crucial for various cellular processes, including maintaining the resting membrane potential, generating action potentials, and regulating intracellular calcium levels.
Types of Ion Channels
As seen in the above figure, there are 4 types of Ion Channels:
Ligand-gated
Ligand-gated ion channels open in response to the binding of a chemical messenger (ligand) to the channel. This binding causes a conformational change in the channel protein, allowing ions to flow through.