Voltage-gated sodium channels: action players with many faces

Ann Med. 2006;38(7):472-82. doi: 10.1080/07853890600969072.

Abstract

Voltage-gated sodium channels are responsible for the upstroke of the action potential and thereby play an important role in propagation of the electrical impulse in excitable tissues like muscle, nerve and the heart. Duplication of the sodium channels encoding genes during evolution generated the sodium channel gene family with the different isoforms differing in biophysical properties and tissue distribution. In this review article, mutations in these genes leading to various inherited disorders are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Diseases / genetics
  • Channelopathies / complications
  • Channelopathies / genetics*
  • Heart Diseases / genetics
  • Humans
  • Ion Channel Gating / genetics*
  • Ion Channel Gating / physiology
  • Mice
  • Muscular Diseases / genetics
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Sodium Channels / genetics*
  • Sodium Channels / physiology

Substances

  • Sodium Channels