Regulation of Ion Channels

Higher organisms need special systems for signal transmission. They are required for the coordination of cell and organ functions. Ion channels in cell membranes play a crucial role in this information process. They are involved in a multitude of functions, such as synaptic transmission in the nervous systems, conduction of action potentials in excitable cells, intercellular junctional connections in many organs, or regulation of localized intracellular ion concentrations. Many ion channels are directly or indirectly coupled to receptors for neurotransmitters and hormones. This provides for considerable plasticity in the information process. The aim of the present report is to describe some basic properties and modulatory regulations of ion channels. In view of the abundance of information in this field, it was only possible to select a few representative examples.