We seem to be on the brink of understanding how ion channels work.
The biophysics of these channels has become much clearer with the ability
to measure the electrical properties of single ion channels. In parallel,
the application of the techniques of X-ray crystallography and electron
microscopy to the isolated channel proteins has established the molecular
structure of a few channels. Finally, though more slowly, we are approaching
a deeper understanding of the theory of movement through
such pores. All these advances allow us to hope that within a few years
we shall be in a position to relate structure and function, that is, to predict
the selectivity and absolute permeability of an ion channel from a knowledge
of its molecular structure. This volume assesses our progress and we
hope it will provide guidelines for future progress. The articles, written by
experts who have themselves contributed much to the development of the
field, summarize comprehensively much of what is known about the molecular
and physiological aspects of ion channels in general and of a
number of different ion channels in particular. While each contribution
deals with a particular aspect of ion channel research problems, a few
general comments at this stage are appropriate.