Chapter 4.3, Problem 2CYU

Summary Introduction

To write:

The description of three conformations of a voltage-gated Na⁺channel and indicate the membrane potential at which each of these conformations exist.

Introduction:

The Voltage-gated membrane channels consist of proteins that have many charged groups. The voltage-gated Na⁺ channel has 2 gates. They are- 1) Activationgate and 2) Inactivation gate. By opening and closing as a sliding door, the activation gate guards the channel's interior. The inactivation gate is an amino acid sequence with a ball-and-chain-like structure at the opening channel facing the ICF.This door is open when the ball hangs freely at the end of its chain and when the ball binds to the opening of the channel, thus blocking the opening. Both gates must be open to allow Na⁺ to go through the channel, and both gates must be closed to prevent passage.