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Ion Channels

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Red Cell Membrane Transport in Health and Disease

Abstract

Erythrocyte ion channels have been described from several animal species and have been more or less extensively characterized. However, the most comprehensive picture has been established for mammalian erythrocytes, especially human, which will be the focus of this chapter. Among the pathways for passive, conductive transport of inorganic ions, two different cation channels have been extensively characterized at present, an intermediate conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel, also known as the Gárdos channel, and a voltage-dependent non-selective cation channel. It should be remembered, however, that transport mediated by these channels was observed decades before ion channels were established facts of life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LCMF, The August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Poul Bennekou

  2. NeuroSearch A/S, Ballerup, Pederstrupvej 93, 2750, Ballerup, Denmark

    Palle Christophersen

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  1. Poul Bennekou
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  1. Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät III, Arbeitsgruppe Biophysik, Universität des Saarlandes, P.O.Box 151150, 66041, Saarbrücken, Germany

    Ingolf Bernhardt

  2. Laboratory of Physiology, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK

    J. Clive Ellory

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Bennekou, P., Christophersen, P. (2003). Ion Channels. In: Bernhardt, I., Ellory, J.C. (eds) Red Cell Membrane Transport in Health and Disease. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05181-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05181-8_6

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