Ion channels.ppt

Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that regulate the voltage gradient across the plasma membrane by allowing ions to diffuse through pores down their electrochemical gradients. There are four main types of gating that control ion channels: ligand gating, phosphorylation, voltage gating, and mechanical gating. The sodium-potassium pump actively transports ions against their gradients in order to maintain the ion concentrations inside and outside the cell. Ion channels are crucial for electrical signaling in the nervous system, controlling the release of neurotransmitters and hormones, and transferring small molecules between cells through gap junctions.