Question

What are the 3 major categories of gated channels?

A. Ligand-gated, voltage-gated, mechanically gated
B. Passive, active, facilitated
C. Ionotropic, metabotropic, trophotropic
D. Nuclear, cytoplasmic, membrane

Answer 1

The three major categories of gated channels are ligand-gated, voltage-gated, and mechanically gated. Ligand-gated channels respond to specific chemicals, voltage-gated to electric potential changes, and mechanically gated to physical forces.

Step-by-step explanation:

The three major categories of gated channels are:

1. Ligand-gated channels, which open in response to the binding of a specific chemical messenger, such as a neurotransmitter (e.g., acetylcholine).
2. Voltage-gated channels, which open or close in response to changes in the membrane potential, such as membrane depolarization or hyperpolarization.
3. Mechanically gated channels, which open in response to mechanical forces that directly affect the structure of the channel protein.

Ligand-gated channels, for example, can be found at neuron synapses where neurotransmitters serve as ligands, prompting the gates to open and ions to flow into or out of the cell, leading to changes in the cellular membrane charge. Voltage-gated channels are pivotal in the conduction of electrical impulses in nerve and muscle tissues, and mechanically gated channels play a role in senses like touch and pressure. Though commonly linked with nervous or muscular tissue, these channels are also present in epithelial and connective tissues.