Ion channels and receptors: molecular targets for behavioral evolution

Ion channels and receptors play critical roles in shaping neuronal activity , and thus are appropriate targets for evolutionary change to generate new behaviors. In this review, the evolution and differentiation of the many vo ltage-gated ion channels and transmitter-activated receptors is summarized; these channels and receptors evolved very early, and with some exceptions all species with nervous systems use similar sets of channels and receptors . Several examples are given of mechanisms for species-specific behavioral evolution that arise from mutations involving the structure, alternative sp licing, level of expression, targeting and modulation of these important ne ural proteins.