Disorders associated with Ion Channels

Abstract

Muscular wasting, a lack of muscle tone, or sporadic muscle paralysis are the most common symptoms of ion channel diseases, which are linked to defects in the proteins known as ion channels. Ion channels are diverse and differ with respect to how they open and close (gating) and their ionic conductance and selectivity (permeation). The development of novel molecules to modulate their activity, fundamental understanding of ion channel structure-function mechanisms, their physiological functions, how their dysfunction results in disease, their use as biosensors, and their utility as biosensors are important and active research frontiers. With a particular emphasis on voltage-gated ion channels, ion-channel engineering methods that have been used to investigate these facets of ion channel function are x-rayed.