Bacterial Ion Channels & Their Eukaryotic Homologs

Bacterial Ion Channels and Their Eukaryotic Homologs is a succinct summarization of the past ten years of research in the field. Emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach, this book will serve as an important reference for ion channel specialists and as a useful introduction to the topic for non-specialists in such fields as microbiology, structural and developmental biology, neuroscience, and biophysics who wish to acquaint themselves with these molecules. Written by acknowledged experts, this comprehensive volume examines the accumulated knowledge of channel structures and considers how it has advanced the understanding of basic bacterial ion channel properties. The first compendium of its kind, Bacterial Ion Channels provides a historical background and presents an analysis of the structure and function of several types of channels, including potassium, ClC chloride, and sodium ion channels. Chapters delve into such topics as diversity of potassium channels in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, selectivity and permeability of bacterial ion channels, voltage- and mechano-sensing, simulation studies of ion channels using molecular modeling, and the role of bacterial ion channels in cell physiology.