Voltage-gated Ion Channels
a) Sodium Channel
- Change in membrane potential opens the channel – activation gates change to the open conformation and sodium can traverse the membrane
- Channel becomes inactivated – Inactivation gate "plugs" the channel and sodium cannot travel through the membrane
- Channel eventually resets back to closed conformation
- Change in membrane potential opens the channel – activation gates change to the open conformation and potassium can traverse the membrane
- Channel eventually resets back to closed conformation