Ion Channels

Recent studies revealed that mitochondria are not only a place of vitamin D3 metabolism but also direct or indirect targets of its activities. This review summarizes current knowledge on the regulation of ion channels from plasma and mitochondrial membranes by the active form of vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2 D3 ). 1,25(OH)2 D3 , is a naturally occurring hormone with pleiotropic activities; implicated in the modulation of cell differentiation, and proliferation and in the prevention of various diseases, including cancer...

Various heavy metals are reported to be able to accelerate horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In real water environmental settings, ubiquitous complexing agents would affect the environmental behaviors of heavy metal ions due to the formation of metal-organic complexes. However, little is known whether the presence of complexing agents would change horizontal gene transfer due to heavy metal exposure. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the impacts of a typical complexing agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the conjugative transfer of plasmid-mediated ARGs induced by a range of heavy metal ions...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The creation of new families of intermetallic or Zintl-phase compounds with high-spin orbit elements has attracted a considerable amount of interest due to the presence of unique electronic, magnetic, and topological phenomena in these materials. Here, we establish the synthesis and structural and electronic characterization of KMg4 Bi3 single crystals having a new structure type. KMg4 Bi3 crystallizes in space group Cmcm having unit cell parameters a = 4.7654(11) Å, b = 15.694(4) Å, and c = 13.4200(30) Å and features an edge-sharing MgBi4 tetrahedral framework that forms cage-like one-dimensional channels around K+ ions...

TRPV3 represents both temperature- and ligand-activated transient receptor potential (TRP) channel. Physiologically relevant opening of TRPV3 channels by heat has been captured structurally, while opening by agonists has only been observed in structures of mutant channels. Here, we present cryo-EM structures that illuminate opening and inactivation of wild-type human TRPV3 in response to binding of two types of agonists: either the natural cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) or synthetic agonist 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane (2-APB)...

The insect gustatory receptors (Grs) are one of the largest families of ion channels in the animal kingdom. Frank et al.1 unveil the structure of a fructose-sensing Gr and provide insight into its function.

L-type calcium channels are essential for the excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle. The CaV 1.2 channel is the most predominant isoform in the ventricle which consists of a multi-subunit membrane complex that includes the CaV 1.2 pore-forming subunit and auxiliary subunits like CaV α2 δ and CaV β2b . The CaV 1.2 channel's C-terminus undergoes proteolytic cleavage, and the distal C-terminal domain (DCterm D) associates with the channel core through two domains known as proximal and distal C-terminal regulatory domain (PCRD and DCRD, respectively)...

Inflammation and pain are intertwined responses to injury, infection, or chronic diseases. While acute inflammation is essential in determining pain resolution and opioid analgesia, maladaptive processes occurring during resolution can lead to the transition to chronic pain. Here we found that inflammation activates the cytosolic DNA-sensing protein stimulator of IFN genes (STING) in dorsal root ganglion nociceptors. Neuronal activation of STING promotes signaling through TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and triggers an IFN-β response that mediates pain resolution...

Mechanosensitive ion channel protein 1 (Piezo1) is a large homotrimeric membrane protein. Piezo1 has various effects and plays an important and irreplaceable role in the maintenance of human life activities and homeostasis of the internal environment. In addition, recent studies have shown that Piezo1 plays a vital role in tumorigenesis, progression, malignancy and clinical prognosis. Piezo1 is involved in regulating the malignant behaviors of a variety of tumors, including cellular metabolic reprogramming, unlimited proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, maintenance of stemness, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis...

Popeye domain containing (POPDC) proteins are predominantly expressed in the heart and skeletal muscle, modulating the K2P potassium channel TREK-1 in a cAMP-dependent manner. POPDC1 and POPDC2 variants cause cardiac conduction disorders with or without muscular dystrophy. Searching for POPDC2-modulated ion channels using a functional co-expression screen in Xenopus oocytes, we found POPDC proteins to modulate the cardiac sodium channel Nav1.5. POPDC proteins downregulate Nav1.5 currents in a cAMP-dependent manner by reducing the surface expression of the channel...

Vestibular compensation is a physiological response of the vestibular organs within the inner ear. This adaptation manifests during consistent exposure to acceleration or deceleration, with the vestibular organs incrementally adjusting to such changes. The molecular underpinnings of vestibular compensation remain to be fully elucidated, yet emerging studies implicate associations with neuroplasticity and signal transduction pathways. Throughout the compensation process, the vestibular sensory neurons maintain signal transmission to the central equilibrium system, facilitating adaptability through alterations in synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability...

Groundwater infiltration into tunnels causes water to percolate through the fissure channels in the initial support shotcrete. This results in the dissolution and outflow of calcium hydroxide, a key product of cement hydration. This process significantly incurs the formation of crystallization blockages in the tunnel drainage systems. Optimizing the shotcrete mixing ratio is a feasible way to mitigate these blockages. Therefore, this study conducts calcium dissolution tests to investigate the impact of six admixtures, namely, antialkali agent, nanosilica, nanosilica carbonate, fly ash, sodium methyl silicate waterproofing agents, and silane waterproofing agents, on calcium dissolution resistance...

The vertical gate-all-around (VGAA) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) holds remarkable potential in the three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (ICs), primarily owing to its capacity for vertical integration. The Si nanopillar, a crucial channel in the VGAA MOSFET, is conventionally shaped via the reactive ion etching (RIE) system employing SF6/O2. Past studies have indicated that high O2 gas conditions in RIE often result in "Si grasses," irregular nanostructures, such as nanospikes on the bottom surface, due to over-passivation...

The field of organic photoelectrochemical transistor (OPECT) is newly emerged, with increasing efforts attempting to utilize its properties in biological sensing. Advanced materials with new physicochemical properties have proven important to this end. Herein, we report a metal-organic polymers-gated OPECT biosensing exemplified by CuⅠ -arylacetylide polymers (CuAs)-modulated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) channel. Both the photoelectrochemical properties and gating capability of CuAs are explored and optimized for high-efficacy photogating...

Type 1 voltage-activated calcium channels (CaV1) in the plasma membrane trigger calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) by two mechanisms. In voltage-induced calcium release (VICR), CaV1 voltage sensing domains are directly coupled to ryanodine receptors (RYRs), an SR calcium channel. In calcium-induced calcium release (CICR), calcium ions flowing through activated CaV1 channels bind and activate RYR channels. VICR is thought to occur exclusively in vertebrate skeletal muscle while CICR occurs in all other muscles (including all invertebrate muscles)...

Separation membranes with homogeneous charge channels are the mainstream to reject charged mass by forming electrical double layer (EDL). However, the EDL often compresses effective solvent transport space and weakens channel-ion interaction. Here, built-in electric fields (BIEFs) are constructed in lamellar membranes by assembling the heterostructured nanosheets, which contain alternate positively-charged nanodomains and negatively-charged nanodomains. We demonstrate that the BIEFs are perpendicular to horizontal channel and the direction switches alternately, significantly weakening the EDL effect and forces ions to repeatedly collide with channel walls...

Anesthesiologists often use benzodiazepines (BZDs) due to their remarkable amnestic and anxiolytic capabilities. Because of this, they are perfect for use during the perioperative phase, when patients' anxiety levels are already high. Remimazolam has replaced certain commonly used intravenous (IV) anesthetics due to its excellent safety profile, rapid onset of action, and short half-life. The four classes of BZDs, 2-keto-benzodiazepines, 3-hydroxy-benzodiazepines, triazolobenzodiazepines, and 7-nitro-benzodiazepines based on chemical structure, provide various levels of drowsiness, forgetfulness, and anxiolysis...

COVID-19 is a viral disease that infects the lower airways, causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and fatal pneumonia. The ripple effect of the COVID-19 outbreak has created serious problems in the healthcare systems of many countries and had far-reaching consequences for the global economy. Thus, effective control measures should be implemented for this coronavirus infection in the future. The ongoing episode of the SARS-CoV-2 sickness, COVID-19, in China, and the subsequent irregular spread of contamination to different nations, has alarmed the clinical and academic community primarily due to the deadly nature of this disease...

OBJECTIVE: Bell's palsy, also referred to as clinical manifestations of unilateral facial nerve palsy, encompasses downward angling of the corners of the mouth, the absence of forehead creases, and unilateral incomplete eyelid closure. The incidence of Bell's palsy has increased progressively in recent years, but the underlying mechanism of its occurrence remains unknown; therefore, it is essential to investigate both the cause and treatment of Bell's palsy. Member 2 of the Subfamily V Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel is a mechanically and thermally sensitive ion channel that plays a crucial role in neural growth and development...

Ion channels on cell membrane are molecular targets of more than half peptide neurotoxins from spiders. From Pardosa pseudoannulata, a predatory spider on a range of insect pests, we characterized a peptide neurotoxin PPTX-04 with an insecticidal activity. PPTX-04 showed high toxicity to Nilaparvata lugens, a main prey of P. pseudoannulata, and the toxicity was not affected by the resistance to etofenprox (IUPAC chemical name:1-ethoxy-4-[2-methyl-1-[(3-phenoxyphenyl)methoxy]propan-2-yl]benzene, purity: 99%)...