scholarly journals Single-channel properties of glycine receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes injected with synthetic RNAs

1992 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
H. Akagi ◽  
A. Momiyama ◽  
K. Hirai ◽  
R. Kohama ◽  
F. Hishinuma ◽  
...  
1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (1) ◽  
pp. H199-H210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johann Kiehn ◽  
Antonio E. Lacerda ◽  
Arthur M. Brown

The rapid, repolarizing K+ current in cardiomyocytes ( I Kr) has unique inwardly rectifying properties that contribute importantly to the downstroke of the cardiac action potential. The human ether-à-go-go-related gene ( HERG) expresses a macroscopic current virtually identical to I Kr, but a description of the single-channel properties that cause rectification is lacking. For this reason we measured single-channel and macropatch currents heterologously expressed by HERG in Xenopus oocytes. Our experiments had two main findings. First, the single-channel current-voltage relation showed inward rectification, and conductance was 9.7 pS at −100 mV and 3.9 pS at 100 mV when measured in symmetrical 100 mM K+ solutions. Second, single channels frequently showed no openings during depolarization but nevertheless revealed bursts of openings during repolarization. This type of gating may explain the inward rectification of HERG currents. To test this hypothesis, we used a three-closed state kinetics model and obtained rate constants from fits to macropatch data. Results from the model are consistent with rapid inactivation from closed states as a significant source of HERG rectification.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (3) ◽  
pp. H1309-H1314 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Zou ◽  
M. E. Curran ◽  
M. T. Keating ◽  
M. C. Sanguinetti

HERG is a K+ channel with properties similar to the rapidly activating component (I(Kr)) of delayed rectifier K+ current, which is important for repolarization of human cardiac myocytes. In this study, we have characterized the single-channel properties of HERG expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Currents were measured in cell-attached patches with an extracellular K concentration of 120 mM. The single HERG channel conductance, determined at test potentials between -50 and -110 mV, was 12.1 +/- 0.6 pS. At positive test potentials (+40 to +80 mV), the probability of channel opening was low and slope conductance was 5.1 +/- 0.6 pS. The mean channel open times at -90 mV were 2.9 +/- 0.5 and 11.8 +/- 1.0 ms, and the mean channel closed times were 0.54 +/- 0.02 and 14.5 +/- 5.3 ms. Single HERG channels were blocked by MK-499, a class III antiarrhythmic agent that blocks I(Kr) in cardiac myocytes. The development of block was more rapid in inside-out patches than in cell-attached patches or in whole cell recordings, indicating that block occurs from the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. The single-channel properties of HERG are similar to I(Kr) channels of isolated cardiac myocytes, which provides further evidence that HERG proteins coassemble to form I(Kr) channels.


1991 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Yu ◽  
Reid J. Leonard ◽  
Norman Davidson ◽  
Henry A. Lester

2002 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Zhang ◽  
Cecilia M. Canessa

The mammalian nervous system expresses proton-gated ion channels known as acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). Depending on their location and specialization some neurons express more than one type of ASIC where they may form homo- or heteromeric channels. Macroscopic characteristics of the ASIC currents have been described, but little is known at the single channel level. Here, we have examined the properties of unitary currents of homomeric rat ASIC1α, ASIC2a, and ASIC3 expressed in Xenopus oocytes with the patch clamp technique. We describe and characterize properties unique to each of these channels that can be used to distinguish the various types of ASIC channels expressed in mammalian neurons. The amplitudes of the unitary currents in symmetrical Na+ are similar for the three types of channels (23–18 pS) and are not voltage dependent. However, ASIC1α exhibits three subconductance states, ASIC2a exhibits only one, and ASIC3 none. The kinetics of the three types of channels are different: ASIC1α and ASIC2a shift between modes of activity, each mode has different open probability and kinetics. In contrast, the kinetics of ASIC3 are uniform throughout the burst of activity. ASIC1α, ASIC2a, and ASIC3 are activated by external protons with apparent pH50 of 5.9, 5.0, and 5.4, respectively. Desensitization in the continual presence of protons is fast and complete in ASIC1α and ASIC3 (2.0 and 4.5 s−1, respectively) but slow and only partial in ASIC2a (0.045 s−1). The response to external Ca2+ also differs: μM concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ are necessary for proton gating of ASIC3 (EC50 = 0.28 μM), whereas ASIC1α and ASIC2a do not require Ca2+. In addition, Ca2+ inhibits ASIC1α (KD = 9.2 ± 2 mM) by several mechanisms: decrease in the amplitude of unitary currents, shortening of the burst of activity, and decrease in the number of activated channels. Contrary to previous reports, our results indicate that the Ca2+ permeability of ASIC1α is very small.


2001 ◽  
Vol 117 (6) ◽  
pp. 563-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Zhang ◽  
Cecilia M. Canessa

The acid-sensitive ion channels known as ASIC are gated by external protons. A set of these channels is expressed in dorsal root ganglion neurons where they may participate in the transduction of mechanical and nociceptive stimuli. Here, we have examined the single-channel properties of channels formed by the subunits ASIC2 and ASIC3 expressed in Xenopus oocytes using outside-out patches. The mean single-channel current-voltage relationship is linear with a slope conductance of 18 pS between −80 and −40 mV in 150 mM Na+ outside and 150 mM K+ inside the patch pipet. The selectivity for monovalent cations has the sequence Na+ > Li+ > K+. Divalent cations such as Ca2+ do not permeate, but instead block the channel when applied to the extracellular side. External protons increase the probability of channels being open to a maximum of 0.8 with an EC50 of 16 ± 4 μM and a Hill coefficient of 2.7 ± 0.3, whereas the mean single-channel current amplitude is independent of external pH. Analysis of the kinetics of single channels indicates the presence of at least four modes of activity (Mod1 to Mod4) in addition to an inactivated state. Three of the modes exhibit distinct kinetics, and can be unambiguously identified on the basis of open probability (PoMod1 = 0.5 ± 0.05; PoMod2 > 0.9 ± 0.05; PoMod3 < 0.1). Mode 4, which has a Po in the range of 0.5–0.8, may constitute a distinct mode or alternatively, it represents transitions between the other three modes of activity. Increasing [H+]o increases the frequency of entering the modes with high Po (modes 1, 2, and 4) and the time the channel spends in the modes with high activity.


2008 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 2115-2124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Rodriguez-Contreras ◽  
Ping Lv ◽  
Jun Zhu ◽  
Hyo Jeong Kim ◽  
Ebenezer N. Yamoah

To minimize the effects of Ca2+ buffering and signaling, this study sought to examine single Ca2+ channel properties using Sr2+ ions, which substitute well for Ca2+ but bind weakly to intracellular Ca2+ buffers. Two single-channel fluctuations were distinguished by their sensitivity to dihydropyridine agonist (L-type) and insensitivity toward dihydropyridine antagonist (non-L-type). The L- and non-L-type single channels were observed with single-channel conductances of 16 and 19 pS at 70 mM Sr2+ and 11 and 13 pS at 5 mM Sr2+, respectively. We obtained KD estimates of 5.2 and 1.9 mM for Sr2+ for L- and non-L-type channels, respectively. At Ca2+ concentration of ∼2 mM, the single-channel conductances of Sr2+ for the L-type channel was ∼1.5 and 4.0 pS for the non-L-type channels. Thus the limits of single-channel microdomain at the membrane potential of a hair cell (e.g., −65 mV) for Sr2+ ranges from 800 to 2,000 ion/ms, assuming an ECa of 100 mV. The channels are ≥4-fold more sensitive at the physiological concentration ranges than at concentrations >10 mM. Additionally, the channels have the propensity to dwell in the closed state at high concentrations of Sr2+, which is reflected in the time constant of the first latency distributions. It is concluded that the concentration of the permeant ion modulates the gating of hair cell Ca2+ channels. Finally, the closed state/s that is/are altered by high concentrations of Sr2+ may represent divalent ion-dependent inactivation of the L-type channel.


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