User:Pclarner/Cyclic nucleotide gated ion channel

Project Proposal for Cyclic nucleotide gated ion channel

Proposed by: Angi Guo, Junwon Park, Meg Lewis, and Peter Clarner.

Discovery
Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels were first discovered in the plasma membrane of rod photoreceptors, in which they were responsible for the primary electrical signals in response to light.

General Function

 * respond to cGMP and cAMP
 * neuronal pathway finding
 * plasticity

Physiological Significance

 * In Photoreceptors
 * In Olfactory neurons
 * In the Brain
 * In Spermatozoa
 * In Kidney
 * In Gonads
 * Other Nonneuronal cells

Structure
As a member of the family of voltage-dependent potassium ion channels, cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels are made up of 4 subunits situated around a central pore. Each subunit includes six transmembrane segments (S1-S6), a reentrant P-loop, and intracellular amino- and carboxy-terminal regions.

Gating Of CNG Channels
Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels play crucial roles in olfactory transduction and phototransduction. In visual sensory cells, CNGs are gated by second messengers, cGMP, and in olfactory sensory cells, CNGs are gated by cAMP and process visual and olfactory stimuli by converting receiving information into electrical signals.
 * In Cyclic Nucleotide Binding Domain
 * In C-Linker
 * In S6 Region
 * In P Region

Family Of CNG Channels
In vertebrates, six members of cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel gene family were identified. These genes are grouped based on sequence similarity into two subtypes, CNGA and CNGB.

Selectivity and Sensitivity of Ligands

 * cNMP-Binding Site
 * C-Linker Region
 * NH2-Terminal Region
 * Pore

Significance in Plants

 * Role in plant immunity

Division of the Workload
We decided that we would start by doing individual research to come up with different areas within the topic to focus on. We then chose the areas that we deemed the most significant and well-documented. From there we will continue our research more in depth to expand on each area. This will require both individual and group efforts.