Concepts for Patch-Clamp Recording of Whole-Cell and Single-Channel K+Currents in Cardiac and Vascular Myocytes

Author(s):  
Antonio Guia ◽  
Carmelle V. Remillard ◽  
Normand Leblanc
1988 ◽  
Vol 255 (3) ◽  
pp. G275-G285 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Suzuki ◽  
O. H. Petersen

K+ channels in the plasma membrane of isolated guinea pig pancreatic acini were studied by patch-clamp single-channel and whole-cell current recording techniques. Three types of K+-permeable pores were found in excised patch experiments: Ca2+-activated nonselective cation channels with a unit conductance of approximately 25 pS that could be inhibited by ATP acting on the membrane inside, and two kinds of Ca2+- and voltage-activated K+-selective channels with unit conductances (in symmetrical K+-rich solutions) of about 200 and 30 pS, respectively. In intact cells, pentagastrin activation of currents through the 30 pS K+-selective pores was demonstrated. In these experiments pentagastrin was added to the bath solution and had no direct contact with the electrically isolated membrane area from which the single-channel currents were recorded, suggesting that the activation is mediated via an intracellular messenger system. Pentagastrin stimulation of voltage-gated K+ currents was also observed in whole-cell recording experiments. Results from these experiments suggest that in the stimulated condition the membrane electrical properties were dominated by the 30 pS K+-selective channels.


1988 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Hoshi ◽  
R W Aldrich

Properties of the whole-cell K+ currents and voltage-dependent activation and inactivation properties of single K+ channels in clonal pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells were studied using the patch-clamp recording technique. Depolarizing pulses elicited slowly inactivating whole-cell K+ currents, which were blocked by external application of tetraethylammonium+, 4-aminopyridine, and quinidine. The amplitudes and time courses of these K+ currents were largely independent of the prepulse voltage. Although pharmacological agents and manipulation of the voltage-clamp pulse protocol failed to reveal any additional separable whole-cell currents in a majority of the cells examined, single-channel recordings showed that, in addition to the large Ca++-dependent K+ channels described previously in many other preparations, PC-12 cells had at least four distinct types of K+ channels activated by depolarization. These four types of K+ channels differed in the open-channel current-voltage relation, time course of activation and inactivation, and voltage dependence of activation and inactivation. These K+ channels were designated the Kw, Kz, Ky, and Kx channels. The typical chord conductances of these channels were 18, 12, 7, and 7 pS in the excised configuration using Na+-free saline solutions. These four types of K+ channels opened in the presence of low concentrations of internal Ca++ (1 nM). Their voltage-dependent gating properties can account for the properties of the whole-cell K+ currents in PC-12 cells.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (4) ◽  
pp. C975-C989 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Rae ◽  
M. A. Watsky

Single-channel patch-clamp techniques as well as standard and perforated-patch whole cell voltage-clamp techniques have been applied to the study of ionic channels in the corneal endothelium of several species. These studies have revealed two major K+ currents. One is due to an anion- and temperature-stimulated channel that is blocked by Cs+ but not by most other K+ channel blockers, and the other is similar to the family of A-currents found in excitable cells. The A-current is transient after a depolarizing voltage step and is blocked by both 4-aminopyridine and quinidine. These two currents are probably responsible for setting the -50 to -60 mV resting voltage reported for these cells. A Ca(2+)-activated ATP-inhibited nonselective cation channel and a tetrodotoxin-blocked Na+ channel are possible Na+ inflow pathways, but, given their gating properties, it is not certain that either channel works under physiological conditions. A large-conductance anion channel has also been identified by single-channel patch-clamp techniques. Single corneal endothelial cells have input resistances of 5-10 G omega and have steady-state K+ currents that are approximately 10 pA at the resting voltage. Pairs or monolayers of cells are electrically coupled and dye coupled through gap junctions.


1995 ◽  
Vol 350 (1334) ◽  
pp. 353-367 ◽  

We introduce and illustrate by examples a new statistical technique, the persistence function, for characterizing ion-channel activity in a single-channel patch-clamp recording. Persistence is a function of both current and time. It is the probability that the current is at a given level (conditional on it having been at that level at an earlier time). Viewed as a function of current it exhibits the prominent conductance levels present in the recording, and viewed as a function of time for a conductance level it portrays the kinetics at that level.


1998 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 281-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albrecht Lepple-Wienhues ◽  
Ildikò Szabò ◽  
Tilmann Laun ◽  
Nubia Kristen Kaba ◽  
Erich Gulbins ◽  
...  

Osmotic cell swelling activates Cl− channels to achieve anion efflux. In this study, we find that both the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A and genetic knockout of p56lck, a src-like tyrosine kinase, block regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in a human T cell line. Activation of a swelling-activated chloride current (ICl−swell) by osmotic swelling in whole-cell patch-clamp experiments is blocked by herbimycin A and lavendustin. Osmotic activation of ICl−swell is defective in p56lck-deficient cells. Retransfection of p56lck restores osmotic current activation. Furthermore, tyrosine kinase activity is sufficient for activation of ICl−swell. Addition of purified p56lck to excised patches activates an outwardly rectifying chloride channel with 31 pS unitary conductance. Purified p56lck washed into the cytoplasm activates ICl−swell in native and p56lck-deficient cells even when hypotonic intracellular solutions lead to cell shrinkage. When whole-cell currents are activated either by swelling or by p56lck, slow single-channel gating events can be observed revealing a unitary conductance of 25–28 pS. In accordance with our patch-clamp data, osmotic swelling increases activity of immunoprecipitated p56lck. We conclude that osmotic swelling activates ICl−swell in lymphocytes via the tyrosine kinase p56lck.


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