Probing the Effects of Phosphoinositides on Ion Channels

Ion channels are integral membrane proteins that control transmembrane ion fluxes to regulate membrane potential, cell excitability, and ion transport. Membrane phospho-lipids containing phosphoinositides have recently emerged as important regulators of many ion channels, including inward rectifier K + channel, voltage-gated K + and Ca 2+ channels, transient receptor potential channels, and intracellular inositol-1,4,5-trisphos-phate receptor ion channels. Discussed here are several methods for studying regulation of ion channels by phospholipids.