Voltage-gated channels contain charged protein domains, which are sensitive to changes in membrane potential.By responding to a threshold in the membrane potential, these voltage sensors trigger the opening of the channels.Which of the following best describes the behavior of a population of channels exposed to such a threshold?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Voltage-gated channels operate in an all-or-nothing manner at the level of individual channels, meaning they either open completely or remain closed. However, in a population of channels, not all channels will respond identically to the same threshold of membrane potential due to variations in the local environment or slight differences in the channels themselves. Therefore, at a given threshold, some channels will open while others remain closed.

Voltage-Gated Channels Contain Charged Protein Domains, Which Are Sensitive to Changes