Membrane proteins allow current flow

• Pores are species-specific

  • Pass K+ but not Ca++ or Na+

• Pores are gated

  • Voltage gated: Probability of opening depends on membrane voltage
  • Secondary gating: Neurotransmitter causes pore to open
  • 2nd figure: Electron microscope picture of an ACh receptor channel

From Kandel, Schwartz, Jessel, Principles of Neural Science, 3rd edn., 1991, pgs. 68 & 137

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