1932

Abstract

ClC-type chloride channels are ubiquitous throughout the biological world. Expressed in nearly every cell type, these proteins have a host of biological functions. With nine distinct homologues known in eukaryotes, the ClCs represent the only molecularly defined family of chloride channels. ClC channels exhibit features of molecular architecture and gating mechanisms unprecedented in other types of ion channels. They form two-pore homodimers, and their voltage-dependence arises not from charged residues in the protein, but rather via coupling of gating to the movement of chloride ions within the pore. Because the functional characteristics of only a few ClC channels have been studied in detail, we are still learning which properties are general to the whole family. New approaches, including structural analyses, will be crucial to an understanding of ClC architecture and function.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.biophys.29.1.411
2000-06-01
2024-12-10
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.biophys.29.1.411
Loading
/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.biophys.29.1.411
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Review Article
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error