Voltage-Dependent Gating of Ion Channels

Bioelectricity is fundamental to the existence of all life forms. Living cells harness transmembrane electrical potential for communication and solute transport across the cell membrane. Voltage-gated ion channels are primarily involved in regulating ionic permeability of biological membranes in response to changes in membrane potential. They belong to a large superfamily of membrane-signaling proteins with specialized and structurally conserved voltage-sensing domains. These channels have been widely studied as exemplars for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of voltage sensing in living organisms. This chapter introduces the general concepts and biophysical approaches used in the field and ends with a brief overview of emerging structural views of the different mechanisms of voltage regulation.