Antigen: fusion protein amino acids 1,817-1,863 of mouse TRPM7 · Clone designation: S74-25 · Host: Mouse · Isotype: IgG₁ · Application(s): WB, IP, and ICC · Ion channels are integral membrane proteins that help establish and control the small voltage gradient across the plasma membrane of living cells by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient.¹ They are present in the membranes that surround all biological cells and their main function is to regulate the flow of ions across this membrane. Whereas some ion channels permit the passage of ions based on charge, others conduct based on a ionic species, such as sodium or potassium. Furthermore, in some ion channels, the passage is governed by a gate which is controlled by chemical or electrical signals, temperature, or mechanical forces. There are a few main classifications of gated ion channels. There are voltage-gated ion channels, ligand-gated, other gating systems, and finally those that are classified differently, having more exotic characteristics. The first are voltage-gated ion channels which open and close in response to membrane potential. These are then seperated into sodium, calcium, potassium, proton, transient receptor, and cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, each of which is responsible for a unique role. Ligand-gated ion channels are also known as ionotropic receptors and they open in response to specific ligand molecules binding to the extracellular domain of the receptor protein. The other gated classifications include activation and inactivation by second messengers, inward-rectifier potassium channels, calcium-activated potassium channels, two-pore-domain potassium channels, light-gated channels, mechano-sensitive ion channels, and cyclic nucleotide-gated channels. Finally, the other classifications are based on less normal characteristics such as two-pore channels and transient receptor potential channels.² TRPs, mammalian homologs of the Drosophila transient receptor potential (TRP) protein, are ion channels that are thought to mediate capacitative calcium entry into the cell. TRP-PLIK is a protein that is both an ion channel and a kinase. As a channel, it conducts calcium and monovalent calcium. As a kinase, it is capable of phosphorylating itself and other substrates. The kinase activity is necessary for channel function, as shown by its dependence on intracellular ATP and by the kinase mutant.^3,4

1 Hille, B. Ion Channels of Excitable Membranes. 3rd (2001).

2 . What are ion channels? (2004).

3 Brauchi, S., Krapivinsky, G., Krapivinsky, L., et al. TRPM7 facilitates cholinergic vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105(24) 8304-8308 (2008).

4 Numata, T., and Okada, Y. Proton conductivity through the human TRPM7 channel and its molecular determinants. J Biol Chem 283(22) 15097-15103 (2008).

Brauchi, S., Krapivinsky, G., Krapivinsky, L., et al. TRPM7 facilitates cholinergic vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105(24) 8304-8308 (2008).

. What are ion channels? (2004).

Numata, T., and Okada, Y. Proton conductivity through the human TRPM7 channel and its molecular determinants. J Biol Chem 283(22) 15097-15103 (2008).

Hille, B. Ion Channels of Excitable Membranes. 3rd (2001).

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