Structural and Functional Modeling of Ion Channels

Life phenomena such as signal transduction and chemical balance in neural systems, are determined by proper and exquisitely timed changes in ion channel mediated conductance and/or membrane potential. The fundamental structure of ion channels is a bundle arrangement of amphiphilic domains of the channel proteins in biological membrane. The amphiphilic domains form transmembrane bundle with a hydrophilic inner pore surrounded by hydrophilic amino acid side chains. The transmembrane bundle provides an ion permeable path through the membrane.
This review will summarize recent developments in structural and functional modeling of ion channels based on this fundamental structure. Our model systems concerning ion channels will be discussed in some detail.