Editing Ion channel (section)

== Biological role ==

Because channels underlie the [[nerve impulse]] and because "transmitter-activated" channels mediate conduction across the [[synapse]]s, channels are especially prominent components of the [[nervous system]]. Indeed, [[#Ion channel blockers|numerous toxins]] that organisms have evolved for shutting down the nervous systems of predators and prey (e.g., the venoms produced by spiders, scorpions, snakes, fish, bees, sea snails, and others) work by modulating ion channel conductance and/or kinetics. In addition, ion channels are key components in a wide variety of biological processes that involve rapid changes in cells, such as [[cardiac muscle|cardiac]], [[skeletal muscle|skeletal]], and [[smooth muscle]] [[Muscle contraction|contraction]], [[epithelium|epithelial]] transport of nutrients and ions, [[T-cell]] activation, and [[pancreas|pancreatic]] beta-cell [[insulin]] release. In the search for new drugs, ion channels are a frequent target.<ref name="pmid17395128">{{cite journal | vauthors = Camerino DC, Tricarico D, Desaphy JF | title = Ion channel pharmacology | journal = Neurotherapeutics | volume = 4 | issue = 2 | pages = 184–98 | date = April 2007 | pmid = 17395128 | doi = 10.1016/j.nurt.2007.01.013 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="pmid19153558">{{cite journal | vauthors = Verkman AS, Galietta LJ | title = Chloride channels as drug targets | journal = Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery | volume = 8 | issue = 2 | pages = 153–71 | date = February 2009 | pmid = 19153558 | pmc = 3601949 | doi = 10.1038/nrd2780 }}</ref><ref name="pmid19161833">{{cite book | vauthors = Camerino DC, Desaphy JF, Tricarico D, Pierno S, Liantonio A | title = Therapeutic Approaches to Ion Channel Diseases | volume = 64 | pages = 81–145 | year = 2008 | pmid = 19161833 | doi = 10.1016/S0065-2660(08)00804-3 | isbn = 978-0-12-374621-4 | series = Advances in Genetics }}</ref>