CIC channels: leaving the dark ages on the verge of a new millennium

The field of molecular physiology of CIC chloride channels has witnessed a tremendous surge in knowledge over the past few years; however, fundamental issues such as the stoichiometry of CIC channels and the identification of pore-lining sequences have only recently begun to be addressed. New studies have also provided important insights into the role of CIC channels in cell volume regulation and their function in intracellular organelles.