Hello Marie,

I have read your discussion on Ion-channels. The discussion is impressive and

comprehensive. I agree t hat the mechanism of the membrane plays an important role in

the transportation of ions inside and outside the membrane. Major classes of ion channels

are gated and non-gated. In gated channels, voltage-gated ion channels play the most

significant role in allowing ions to traverse the membrane when the voltage in the

membrane reaches a level where an action potential is initiated in response to electrical

potential. Ligand-gated channels also allow the passage of ions in and out of the

membrane. The application of mechanisms of full agonists, partial agonists, antagonists,

and inverse agonists has been used in the pharmaceutical industry to make medication

that runs on action potential mechanisms (Morachevskaya et al., 2021). I agree that a full

agonist medication can elicit the target system's maximum response. On the other hand,

partial agonist medications are used to partially bind particular receptors. However,

Ligand medication slows biological reaction, therefore acting as an antagonist.

Reference

Morachevskaya, E. A., & Sudarikova, A. V. (2021). Actin dynamics as critical ion

channel regulator: ENAC and piezo in focus. American Journal of Physiology-

Cell Physiology, 320(5). https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00368.2020

Hello Stephen,

I have read your discussion on ion channels and am impressed with your overall

comprehensive discussion. The movement of ions in and out of the membrane causes

significant charge separation across the membrane and thus the movement causes

disturbance on the resting potential of these membranes to cause potential differences in

the membrane state. I agree that charge reduction leads to depolarization and an increase

in charge separation leads to hyperpolarization (Morachevskaya et al., 2021). Ion

channels facilitate these processes. However, the mechanism of action potential depends

on the types of ion channels involved. Gated and non–gated ion channels facilitate the

transfer of ions into and out of the cell through the membrane. These mechanisms of ion

movement have wide applications in biomedical research and the pharmaceutical industry

to manufacture drugs for curing numerous psychological conditions. Agonists could be

used in drugs that produce a submaximal biological response while antagonists produce

no biological response. This medication could be used in the management of conditions

such as depression etc.

Reference

Morachevskaya, E. A., & Sudarikova, A. V. (2021). Actin dynamics as critical ion

channel regulator: ENAC and piezo in focus. American Journal of Physiology-

Cell Physiology, 320(5). https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00368.2020