Voltage-gated sodium channel
Voltage-gated Sodium Channel
The Voltage-gated Sodium Channel (pronunciation: vohl-tij-gey-tid soh-dee-uhm chan-nel) is a type of Ion Channel that opens in response to changes in the electrical membrane potential.
Etymology
The term "Voltage-gated Sodium Channel" is derived from its function. "Voltage-gated" refers to the mechanism by which the channel opens - changes in the cell's membrane potential. "Sodium" refers to the type of ions that pass through the channel, and "Channel" refers to the pathway through which ions move.
Function
Voltage-gated Sodium Channels play a crucial role in the initiation and propagation of Action Potentials in neurons and other excitable cells. When the membrane potential of the cell changes, the channel opens, allowing sodium ions to flow into the cell. This influx of sodium ions causes a rapid increase in the membrane potential, which triggers the action potential.
Structure
Voltage-gated Sodium Channels are composed of a large alpha subunit that forms the channel pore and one or two smaller beta subunits that modulate the activity of the channel. The alpha subunit has four homologous domains (I-IV), each containing six transmembrane segments (S1-S6). The S4 segment acts as the voltage sensor.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Voltage-gated sodium channel
- Wikipedia's article - Voltage-gated sodium channel
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