Ion Channels – Voltage Gated

Ion channels form a large superfamily of integral membrane proteins that are expressed almost ubiquitously in excitable and nonexcitable cells. Voltage-gated ion channels that selectively pass Na +, Ca 2+, or K + are key regulators of function in excitable cells and are widely considered to be attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment of human diseases. This chapter reviews our current understanding of the multiple genes that encode voltage-gated ion channel subunits, addressing important topics such as the physiological and pathological roles that are associated with these subunits in normal and diseased states, their prototypical pharmacology, and therapeutic opportunities for subtype-selective drugs.