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Ion Channels and Membrane Potential definitions

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  • Ion Channel
    A transmembrane protein forming a pore that enables passive movement of small polar molecules, often specific to a single ion.
  • Passive Transport
    Movement of molecules across a membrane without energy input, driven by concentration or charge differences.
  • Gated Channel
    A protein pore that opens or closes in response to specific stimuli, regulating ion flow across membranes.
  • Voltage-Gated Channel
    A membrane protein that opens or closes depending on the electrical charge difference across the membrane.
  • Ligand-Gated Channel
    A membrane pore that opens when a specific molecule binds, allowing selective ion passage.
  • Mechanically-Gated Channel
    A protein pore that responds to physical forces, such as vibrations, to regulate ion movement.
  • Selectivity Filter
    A structural feature within a channel that ensures only certain ions, after shedding water, can pass through.
  • Membrane Potential
    The difference in ion concentration and charge between the inside and outside of a cell membrane.
  • Resting Membrane Potential
    A state where the movement of positive and negative ions across the membrane is balanced, not necessarily equal in charge.
  • Nernst Equation
    A mathematical formula used to calculate the concentration and charge differences across a cell membrane.
  • Sodium-Potassium Pump
    A transporter that creates concentration gradients by moving sodium and potassium ions in opposite directions across the membrane.
  • Potassium Leak Channel
    A membrane protein that remains open, allowing potassium ions to flow and help restore membrane potential.
  • Concentration Gradient
    A difference in the amount of a substance on either side of a membrane, driving passive movement.
  • Patch Clamp Technique
    A method using a micropipette to isolate and measure the activity of a single ion channel in a cell membrane.
  • Micropipette
    A tiny glass or similar tube used to isolate a small membrane area for precise measurement of ion channel activity.