Ligand-gated channels

Definition

Ligand-gated channels are proteins that span cell membranes and open to allow ions such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Cl- to pass through in response to the binding of a chemical messenger (ligand) like a neurotransmitter. Their opening and closing control the flow of ions across the cell membrane, crucial for initiating electrical signals.

Related terms

Neurotransmitter:

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a chemical synapse from one neuron (nerve cell) to another 'target' neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell.

Ion Channel: Pore-forming membrane proteins that allow ions to pass through the channel pore and across cell membranes, facilitating electrical signaling in cells.

Membrane Potential:

The electrical potential difference between the interior and exterior of a biological cell, vital for transmission of impulses along nerves