Channelome: A comprehensive resource for voltage-gated ion channels

Voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs) are integral membrane proteins that allow the flow of ions across the cell membrane, playing a crucial role in generating and transmitting electrical signals in excitable cells like neurons and muscle cells. Accurate characterization of VGIC biophysical properties, particularly their voltage dependence, is fundamental for constructing precise mathematical models and understanding their physiological roles. Despite over four decades of research on ion channels, kinetic characterization has been limited to a few channels studied under broad experimental conditions and often at non-physiological temperatures, resulting in a lack of standardized kinetic data. Additionally, the absence of shared raw experimental data further compounds this issue.To address this gap, we started with the kinetic characterization of 40 voltage-gated potassium channels in a study published in 2019. Today, we present a comprehensive and systematic exploration of the biophysical properties of all major VGICs, spanning Kv, K2P, Kir, KCa, Nav, Cav, and HCN channels. Using stable cell lines and automated patch-clamp systems, we obtained temperature-dependent biophysical data on those VGICs that were previously absent from the literature. The stable cell lines and reference kinetic data are now also being used to screen the effect of a single drug across all main VGICs.All electrophysiological data, combined with meticulously curated information from the existing literature, are now accessible to the scientific community through an updated web application called Channelpedia. We proudly introduce this resource as the Channelome, which represents a milestone in the pursuit of comprehensive and standardized VGIC kinetics data.