Voltage-Gated Ion Channel (VGIC)

Voltage-gated ion channels are a class of transmembrane proteins that form ion channels activated by changes in the electrical membrane potential across the cell membrane. These channels play a fundamental role in generating and propagating electrical signals, particularly in excitable cells such as neurons, muscle cells, and some endocrine cells. They are composed of subunits arranged to create a central pore for ion passage, including a voltage sensor, a pore domain, and a gate. These channels cycle through resting/deactivated, activated/open, and inactivated states. Different voltage-gated ion channels are selective for specific ions, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride. They are essential for various physiological processes and are major drug targets due to their central role in cellular excitability.

Other names

Voltage-dependent ion channelVoltage-sensitive ion channel

Modulation of ion flow across the cell membrane by binding to the channel and altering its gating properties.