Channelpedia

PubMed 12214225




Title: The voltage-gated potassium channels and their relatives.

Authors: Gary Yellen

Journal, date & volume: Nature, 2002 Sep 5 , 419, 35-42

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12214225


Abstract
The voltage-gated potassium channels are the prototypical members of a family of membrane signalling proteins. These protein-based machines have pores that pass millions of ions per second across the membrane with astonishing selectivity, and their gates snap open and shut in milliseconds as they sense changes in voltage or ligand concentration. The architectural modules and functional components of these sophisticated signalling molecules are becoming clear, but some important links remain to be elucidated.