Ion channel

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Ion channels are hydrophllic pores in a plasma membrane, they are gated this means they are only open when stimulated for example by a voltage. The channels are also selective allowing only some ions to pass, for example sodium or potassium[1][2]. Ion channels can be classed into three main families: voltage gated ion channels, ligand gated ion channels and mechanically gated ion channles[3].

References

  1. Alberts,Molecular Biology of the cell 5th editon,2008,page 668
  2. Alberts,Molecular Biology of the cell 5th editon,2008,page 668
  3. Lyons. I (2011). Biomedical Science Lecture Notes. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. 82.