Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors in the endoplasmic reticulum: A single-channel point of view

Abstract

As an intracellular Ca(2+) release channel at the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, the ubiquitous inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptor (InsP3R) plays a crucial role in the generation, propagation and regulation of intracellular Ca(2+) signals that regulate numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes. This review provides a concise account of the fundamental single-channel properties of the InsP3R channel: its conductance properties and its regulation by InsP3 and Ca(2+), its physiological ligands, studied using nuclear patch clamp electrophysiology.

Keywords: Calcium signal; Endoplasmic reticulum; Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor; Intracellular calcium; Ion channel; Patch clamp electrophysiology.