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Ion Channel Localization pp 275–296Cite as

Delivering Ion Channels to Mammalian Cells by Membrane Fusion

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Part of the book series: Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology ((MIPT))

Abstract

Ion channels in the plasma membrane play a critical role in cellular function. These proteins are the gatekeepers that control ion homeostasis and shape excitability. Excitable cells use a variety of different ion channels to fashion their hallmark electrical signal, the action potential. Advances in molecular electrophysiology have led to the identification of more ion-channel genes than there are identified membrane currents. This excess is particularly striking with potassium channels, where a wide diversity of genes is compounded by variable levels of hetero-multimerization, alternative splicing, and post-translational modification. The classical methods of studying the roles of each gene rely either on exogenous expression in frog oocytes or pharmacological manipulation of native currents 1). Although these techniques have yielded a wealth of information concerning ion channel structure and function, they have come up short in linking individual genes and their products to physiology and disease.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkin University, Baltimore, MD

    David C. Johns

  2. Department of Medicine III, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Uta C. Hoppe & Brian O’Rourke

  3. Institute of Molecular Cardiobiology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

    Eduardo Marbán

Authors
  1. David C. Johns
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  2. Uta C. Hoppe
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  3. Eduardo Marbán
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  4. Brian O’Rourke
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

    Anatoli N. Lopatin

  2. Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO

    Colin G. Nichols

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© 2001 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Johns, D.C., Hoppe, U.C., Marbán, E., O’Rourke, B. (2001). Delivering Ion Channels to Mammalian Cells by Membrane Fusion. In: Lopatin, A.N., Nichols, C.G. (eds) Ion Channel Localization. Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-118-3:275

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-118-3:275

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-833-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-118-3

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