The Molecules of Transport Ion Channels

In the past few years a great variety of transport proteins have been identified and characterized at the molecular level, opening up new insights into the mechanisms of transport. This publication represents the first issue of a miniseries on "molecules of transport" and is dedicated to ion channels. Selected reviews report recent progress in the structural and functional characterization of mammalian potassium channels, sodium channels, voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, glutamate receptor channels, cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, and GABA[A] receptor channels as well as chloride channels, including the cystic fibrosis trans-membrane regulator (CFTR). The information gathered here will lead to a better understanding of the role of ion channels in health and disease and will ultimately aid in the development of new drugs modulating their functions.