Chapter 3.2, Problem 4AYLO

Summary Introduction

To discuss:

The distinction between leak channels and gated channels, and between ligand-gated, voltage-gated and mechanically gated channels.

Introduction:

Cells are regarded as the simplest unit (structural and functional) of life. Cellular membrane, nucleus, and cytoplasm are the three major components of a cell. Cellular membrane, which surrounds the entire cell, is composed of phospholipids and proteins. Membrane proteins that traverse the entire cell membrane alone can serve as a membrane channel. A channel protein aids in the transfer of solutes (water and hydrophilic solutes) from one side of the selectively permeable membrane to the other side of the membrane. Such integral proteins are called as transmembrane proteins.