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Nature 417, 501-502 (30 May 2002) | doi:10.1038/417501a
Ion channels: An open and shut case
Maria Schumacher & John P. Adelman
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Abstract
Most ion channels open and close — they are 'gated' — in response to cues in their environment. A crystal structure of a Ca2+-gated K+-ion channel provides insight into how gating works.
Nervous systems are built for speed, using electrical signals that are propagated by the activities of ion channels. Two responsibilities are incumbent on these membrane-spanning proteins.
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