Single-Channel and Oligo-Channel Recordings: Thermodynamic Information Obtainable from Electric Fluctuations Produced by a Small Number of Ionic Channels

Author(s):  
Izchak Z. Steinberg
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.


1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 1655-1661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Araque ◽  
Washington Buño

The role of the Ca2+-activated K+ current ( I K(Ca)) in crayfish opener muscle fibers is functionally important because it regulates the graded electrical activity that is characteristic of these fibers. Using the cell-attached and inside-out configurations of the patch-clamp technique, we found three different classes of channels with properties that matched those expected of the three different ionic channels mediating the depolarization-activated macroscopic currents previously described (Ca2+, K+, and Ca2+-dependent K+ currents). We investigated the properties of the ionic channels mediating the extremely fast activating and persistent I K(Ca). These voltage- and Ca2+-activated channels had a mean single-channel conductance of ∼ 70 pS and showed a very fast activation. Both the single-channel open probability and the speed of activation increased with depolarization. Both parameters also increased in inside-out patches, i.e., in high Ca2+concentration. Intracellular loading with the Ca2+ chelator bis(2-aminophenoxy) ethane- N, N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid gradually reduced and eventually prevented channel openings. The channels opened at very brief delays after the pulse depolarization onset (<5 ms), and the time-dependent open probability was constant during sustained depolarization (≤560 ms), matching both the extremely fast activation kinetics and the persistent nature of the macroscopic I K(Ca). However, the intrinsic properties of these single channels do not account for the partial apparent inactivation of the macroscopic I K(Ca), which probably reflects temporal Ca2+ variations in the whole muscle fiber. We conclude that the channels mediating I K(Ca) in crayfish muscle are voltage- and Ca2+-gated BK channels with relatively small conductance. The intrinsic properties of these channels allow them to act as precise Ca2+ sensors that supply the exact feedback current needed to control the graded electrical activity and therefore the contraction of opener muscle fibers.


1986 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-72
Author(s):  
J. R. Lemos ◽  
J. J. Nordmann

Although there is considerable evidence that depolarization of nerve cell terminals leads to the entry of Ca2+ and to the secretion of neurohormones and neurotransmitters, the details of how ionic currents control the release of neuroactive substances from nerve terminals are unknown. The small size of most nerve terminals has precluded direct analysis of membrane ionic currents and their influence on secretion. We now report that it is possible, using patch-clamp techniques, to study stimulus--secretion coupling in isolated peptidergic nerve terminals. Sinus gland terminals from Cardisoma are easily isolated following collagenase treatment and appear morphologically and electrically very similar to non-dissociated nerve endings. We have observed two types of single-channel currents not previously described. The first (‘f’) channel is activated by intracellular Na+ and the second (‘s’) by intracellular Ca2+. Both show little selectivity between Na+ and K+. In symmetrical K+, these cation channels have mean conductances of 69 and 213 pS, respectively. Furthermore, at least three types of Ca2+ channels can be reconstituted from nerve terminal membranes prepared from sinus glands. Nerve terminals can also be isolated from the rat neural lobe. These neurosecretosomes release oxytocin and vasopressin, in response to membrane depolarization, only in the presence of external Ca2+. The depolarization of the nerve endings is associated with an increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration and this increase, measured using a fluorescent indicator, is abolished by Ca2+ channel blockers. Channels similar in their properties to the f and s channels also exist in rat neural lobe endings. Since these channels have not been found in other neurones or neuronal structures they may be unique to peptidergic nerve terminals.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (2) ◽  
pp. F348-F356 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Dube ◽  
L. Parent ◽  
R. Sauve

The nature and function of the ionic channels at the apical membrane of primary cultured proximal tubule cells (PT) was investigated by use of the extracellular patch-clamp method. Several types of ionic channels were observed, including a calcium-dependent K+ channel of 206 pS in symmetrical 162 mM KCl activated at depolarizing potentials [maxi K+(Ca2+)]. Whole cell experiments were also carried out that clearly indicated that the PT cells respond to a hypotonic shock by activating electroconductive pathways. This response consisted of an initial hyperpolarization (from -47 to -58 mV, SD = 3, n = 4), followed by a strong depolarization (to -23 mV, SD = 4, n = 4). Furthermore, it was found in cell-attached experiments that the maxi K+(Ca2+) channel becomes activated during the hypotonic challenge. The activation process required external Ca2+, although some residual single-channel activity was measured in the absence of extracellular calcium (n = 3). On the basis of these results, it is concluded that the volume regulation process in PT cells in response to a hypotonic shock involves an influx of calcium from the external medium, which in turn triggers the opening of apical maxi K+(Ca2+) channels.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (2) ◽  
pp. F275-F280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Yves Lapointe ◽  
P. Darwin Bell ◽  
Ravshan Z. Sabirov ◽  
Yasunobu Okada

Patch-clamp experiments in cell-attached (c/a) and inside-out (i/o) configurations were performed to directly observe ionic channels in lateral membranes of macula densa (MD) cells from rabbit kidney. In the presence of 140 mM KCl in the pipette and normal Ringer solution in the bath, we repeatedly observed in c/a and in i/o configurations a 20- to 23-pS channel with a linear current-voltage ( I- V) relationship reversing near 0 mV. Ionic replacement in the bath solution clearly indicated a cationic selectivity but with equal permeability for Na+ and K+. Single-channel kinetics was characterized by higher open probability at positive membrane potentials. In i/o experiments, elimination of bath Ca2+ (≤1 μM) abolished channel activity in a reversible manner. This MD nonselective cationic channel was found to display a certain Ca2+ permeability because single-channel events could be detected when the pipette potential was very negative (–60, –80, and –100 mV) in the presence of 73 mM CaCl2 in the bath solution. The similarities between this channel and some channels of the transient receptor potential family suggest a possible role for this MD basolateral channel in controlling membrane potential and regulating Ca2+ entry during MD cell signaling.


1996 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
R A Brutyan ◽  
P McPhie

The one-sided action of the polyene antibiotic, amphotericin B, on phospholipid bilayer membranes formed from synthetic phosphatidylcholines (DOPC and DPhPC) and sterols (ergosterol and cholesterol), has been investigated. We found formation of well-defined ionic channels for both sterols and not only for ergosterol-containing membranes (Bolard, J., P. Legrand, F. Heitz, and B. Cybulska. 1991. Biochemistry. 30:5707-5715). Characteristics of these channels were studied in the presence of different salts. It was found that the channels have comparable conductances but different lifetimes that are approximately 100-fold less in cholesterol-containing membranes than in ergosterol-containing ones. Channel blocking by tetraethylammonium (TEA) ions shows that TEA blockage of channels in the presence of cholesterol increases their lifetimes in analogy to the lengthening of lifetimes of protein channels blocked by local anesthetics (Neher, E., and J. H. Steinbach. 1978. J. Physiol. 277: 153-176). However, the effect of the blocker on single-channel conductance is very close for both sterols. The data support the classical model of amphotericin B pore formation from complexes initially lying on the membrane surface as nonconducting prepores. We explain the antibiotic's cytotoxic selectivity by differences in the lifetimes of the channels formed with different sterols and suggest that phosphatidylcholine-sterol membranes can be used as a tool for rapid estimation of polyene antibiotic cytotoxicity.


1997 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 1165-1181 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bucossi ◽  
M. Nizzari ◽  
V. Torre

1988 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Franciolini ◽  
A. Petris

Author(s):  
P. Trebbia ◽  
P. Ballongue ◽  
C. Colliex

An effective use of electron energy loss spectroscopy for chemical characterization of selected areas in the electron microscope can only be achieved with the development of quantitative measurements capabilities.The experimental assembly, which is sketched in Fig.l, has therefore been carried out. It comprises four main elements.The analytical transmission electron microscope is a conventional microscope fitted with a Castaing and Henry dispersive unit (magnetic prism and electrostatic mirror). Recent modifications include the improvement of the vacuum in the specimen chamber (below 10-6 torr) and the adaptation of a new electrostatic mirror.The detection system, similar to the one described by Hermann et al (1), is located in a separate chamber below the fluorescent screen which visualizes the energy loss spectrum. Variable apertures select the electrons, which have lost an energy AE within an energy window smaller than 1 eV, in front of a surface barrier solid state detector RTC BPY 52 100 S.Q. The saw tooth signal delivered by a charge sensitive preamplifier (decay time of 5.10-5 S) is amplified, shaped into a gaussian profile through an active filter and counted by a single channel analyser.


1968 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois Joan Sanders

A tongue pressure unit for measurement of lingual strength and patterns of tongue pressure is described. It consists of a force displacement transducer, a single channel, direct writing recording system, and a specially designed tongue pressure disk, head stabilizer, and pressure unit holder. Calibration with known weights indicated an essentially linear and consistent response. An evaluation of subject reliability in which 17 young adults were tested on two occasions revealed no significant difference in maximum pressure exerted during the two test trials. Suggestions for clinical and research use of the instrumentation are noted.


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