Channels and Signal Transduction Pathways in Neurons

• Main Authors: Magura, I.S., Bogdanova, N.A., Dolgaya, E.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Інститут фізіології ім. О.О. Богомольця НАН України 2015
• Series: Нейрофизиология
• Subjects: Материалы VI Конгресса Украинского общества нейро- наук, посвященного 90-летию со дня рождения академика П. Г. Костюка (Киев, 4 – 8 июня 2014 г.)
• Online Access: http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/148154

Potassium (K⁺) channels constitute the most diverse class of ion channels; these channels are especially important for regulation of the neuronal excitability and provide signaling activity in a variety of ways. These channels are major determinants of the membrane excitability, influencing the resting potential of the membranes, waveforms and frequencies of action potentials, and thresholds of excitation. Voltage-gated K⁺ channels do not exist as independent units merely responding to changes in the transmembrane potential; these are macromolecular complexes able to integrate a great variety of cellular signals that provide fine tuning of channel activities. Compounds that change K⁺ channel properties are commonly employed as therapeutic agents in a number of pathologies, in particular, arrhythmias, cancer, and neurological disorders (psychoses, epilepsy, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease).