scholarly journals Deuterium oxide and temperature effects on the properties of endplate channels at the frog neuromuscular junction.

1985 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
C A Lewis

The effects of deuterium oxide (D2O) and temperature on the properties of endplate channels were studied in voltage-clamped muscle fibers from the frog Rana pipiens. Studies were performed at temperatures of 8, 12, 16, and 20 degrees C. The single channel conductance (gamma) and mean channel lifetime (tau) were calculated from fluctuation analysis of the acetylcholine-induced end-plate currents. The reversal potential was determined by interpolation of the acetylcholine-induced current-voltage relation. The mean reversal potential was slightly more negative in D2O Ringer's (-7.9 +/- 0.1 mV [+/- SEM]) compared with H2O Ringer's (-5.2 +/- 0.6 mV, P less than 0.01). The single channel conductance was decreased in D2O. This decrease was greater than could be accounted for by the increased viscosity of D2O solutions, and the amount of the decrease was greater at higher temperatures. For example, gamma was 38.4 +/- 1.3 pS (+/- SEM) in H2O Ringer's and 25.7 +/- 1.0 pS in D2O Ringer's for a holding potential of -70 mV at 12 degrees C. The mean channel lifetime was significantly shorter in D2O, and the effect was greater at lower temperatures. There was not a strong effect of solvent on the temperature dependence of gamma. On the other hand, the temperature dependence of the reciprocal mean channel lifetime, alpha (where alpha = 1/tau), was strongly dependent upon the solvent. The single channel conductances showed no demonstrable voltage dependence over the range of -90 to -50 mV in both solvents. The reciprocal mean channel lifetime showed a voltage dependence, which could be described by the relation alpha = B exp(AV). The slope A was not strongly affected by either temperature or the solvent. On the other hand, the intercept B was a strong function of temperature and was weakly dependent upon the solvent, with most values greater in D2O. The D2O effects on alpha were what would be expected if they were due to the properties of D2O as a solvent (solvent isotope effects), while the D2O effects on gamma must also include the exchange of D for H in the vicinity of the selectivity filter (primary and/or secondary kinetic isotope effects).

1987 ◽  
Vol 253 (3) ◽  
pp. F476-F487 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sackin ◽  
L. G. Palmer

Potassium (K+) channels in the basolateral membrane of unperfused Necturus proximal tubules were studied in both cell-attached and excised patches, after removal of the tubule basement membrane by manual dissection without collagenase. Two different K+ channels were identified on the basis of their kinetics: a short open-time K+ channel, with a mean open time less than 1 ms, and a long open-time K+ channel with a mean open time greater than 20 ms. The short open-time channel occurred more frequently than the longer channel, especially in excised patches. For inside-out excised patches with Cl- replaced by gluconate, the current-voltage relation of the short open-time K+ channel was linear over +/- 60 mV, with a K+-Na+ selectivity of 12 +/- 2 (n = 12), as calculated from the reversal potential with oppositely directed Na+ and K+ gradients. With K-Ringer in the patch pipette and Na-Ringer in the bath, the conductance of the short open-time channel was 47 +/- 2 pS (n = 15) for cell-attached patches, 26 +/- 2 pS (n = 15) for patches excised (inside out) into Na-Ringer, and 36 +/- 6 pS (n = 3) for excised patches with K-Ringer on both sides. These different conductances can be partially explained by a dependence of single-channel conductance on the K+ concentration on the interior side of the membrane. In experiments with a constant K+ gradient across excised patches, large changes in Na+ at the interior side of the membrane produced no change in single-channel conductance, arguing against a direct block of the K+ channel by Na+. Finally, the activity of the short open-time channel was voltage gated, where the mean number of open channels decreased as a linear function of basolateral membrane depolarization for potentials between -60 and 0 mV. Depolarization from -60 to -40 mV decreased the mean number of open K+ channels by 28 +/- 8% (n = 6).


2000 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
WALLACE B. THORESON ◽  
RON NITZAN ◽  
ROBERT F. MILLER

The present study uses cell-attached patch-recording techniques to study the single-channel properties of Ca2+ channels in isolated salamander photoreceptors and investigate their sensitivity to reductions in intracellular Cl−. The results show that photoreceptor Ca2+ channels possess properties similar to L-type Ca2+ channels in other preparations, including (1) enhancement of openings by the dihydropyridine agonist, (−)BayK8644; (2) suppression by a dihydropyridine antagonist, nisoldipine; (3) single-channel conductance of 22 pS with 82 mM Ba2+ as the charge carrier; (4) mean open probability of 0.1; (5) open-time distribution fit with a single exponential (τ0 = 1.1 ms) consistent with a single open state; and (6) closed time distribution fit with two exponentials (τc1 = 0.7 ms, τc2 = 25.4 ms) consistent with at least two closed states. Using a Cl−-sensitive dye to measure intracellular [Cl−], it was found that perfusion with gluconate-containing, low Cl− medium depleted intracellular [Cl−]. It was therefore possible to reduce intracellular [Cl−] by perfusion with a low Cl− solution while maintaining the extracellular channel surface in high Cl− pipette solution. Under these conditions, the single-channel conductance was unchanged, but the mean open probability fell to 0.03. This reduction can account for the 66% reduction in whole-cell Ca2+ currents produced by perfusion with low Cl− solutions. Examination of the open and closed time distributions suggests that the reduction in open probability arises from increases in closed-state dwell times. Changes in intracellular [Cl−] may thus modulate photoreceptor Ca2+ channels.


1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1917-1929 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. Thio ◽  
D. B. Clifford ◽  
C. F. Zorumski

1. The effects of the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) on quisqualate-gated currents were examined in postnatal rat hippocampal neurons using recordings from whole cells and outside-out membrane patches. 2. Rapid applications of quisqualate to whole cells and outside-out patches evoked a current that desensitized to a steady-state level. WGA blocked desensitization by increasing the steady-state current amplitude without altering the current-voltage (I-V) relationship or pharmacology of the current. 3. In outside-out patches quisqualate (2.5-1,000 microM) elicited bursts of channel openings having conductances of 2.7, 6.3, and 13 pS. The mean burst length for all conductances was 8.6 +/- 0.6 ms (mean +/- SE) and exhibited little voltage (-110 to +80 mV) or concentration (2.5-1,000 microM) dependence. Treating patches with 580 nM WGA produced no change in conductance, but the mean burst length for 100 microM quisqualate increased from 9.0 +/- 1.1 to 16 +/- 3.2 ms. 4. Fluctuation analysis of whole cell currents evoked by 1 microM quisqualate at -80 mV revealed an increase in the time constant from 8.7 +/- 0.5 to 13 +/- 1.0 ms after treatment with 580 nM WGA. This treatment produced no change in the estimated single-channel conductance. 5. These findings suggest that an increase in channel burst length, rather than an increase in single-channel conductance, contributes to the WGA-induced augmentation of the steady-state quisqualate current.


1989 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. O'Dell ◽  
B. N. Christensen

1. Horizontal cells enzymatically isolated from retinas of the Atlantic stingray (Dasyatis sabina) were voltage-clamped using the patch electrode in the whole-cell mode. A rapid microsuperfusion system was used to apply excitatory amino acid agonists and antagonists. 2. The isolated cells responded to glutamate (GLU), kainate (KA), quisqualate (QA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA). Responses elicited by GLU, QA, and AMPA but not KA exhibited a concentration-dependent and concanavalin A- (Con-A) sensitive desensitization. No responses were elicited by aspartate, N-methyl-D-aspartate, or quinolinate at concentrations as high as 1.0 mM. 3. Judging from the concentration producing one-half of the maximal current response (EC50), the rank order affinities of the agonists was QA greater than or equal to GLU greater than AMPA greater than KA. Whereas KA had the lowest affinity of the agonists tested it was the most efficacious, producing the largest currents. Hill coefficients of the concentration-response data were near two for KA and GLU and near one for QA and AMPA. 4. The agonists differed in their sensitivity to various excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists. Kynurenate (KYN) produced a nearly complete block of horizontal cell responses to GLU and KA at concentrations that had little effect on QA and AMPA. Piperidine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (cis-PDA), 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-piperazine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid (pCB-PzDA), and folic acid were less potent antagonists than KYN but were also better blockers of KA and GLU responses than of QA- and AMPA-elicited responses. 5. When QA, AMPA, or GLU were applied in combination with 55.0 microM KA the current was less than that produced by KA alone. The rank order potency for the inhibition of KA-elicited responses was QA greater than AMPA greater than GLU. In the presence of low concentrations of KA (1.0-20.0 microM), QA- and AMPA-elicited responses were potentiated. This potentiation was prevented by KYN. 6. Single-channel conductance and mean open time were estimated from the current noise fluctuations in the presence of agonist. The mean single-channel conductance for QA was 9 pS that was almost twice as large as the conductance for KA (5.9 pS) and GLU (5.7 pS). The mean open time in the presence of QA or GLU was approximately 1 ms, which was about one-half of that for KA (2.0 ms). 7. These results are best explained by the existence of a single receptor protein with multiple but not identical ligand-binding sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


1989 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 813-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
D S Duch ◽  
E Recio-Pinto ◽  
C Frenkel ◽  
S R Levinson ◽  
B W Urban

In the interest of continuing structure-function studies, highly purified sodium channel preparations from the eel electroplax were incorporated into planar lipid bilayers in the presence of veratridine. This lipoglycoprotein originates from muscle-derived tissue and consists of a single polypeptide. In this study it is shown to have properties analogous to sodium channels from another muscle tissue (Garber, S. S., and C. Miller. 1987. Journal of General Physiology. 89:459-480), which have an additional protein subunit. However, significant qualitative and quantitative differences were noted. Comparison of veratridine-modified with batrachotoxin-modified eel sodium channels revealed common properties. Tetrodotoxin blocked the channels in a voltage-dependent manner indistinguishable from that found for batrachotoxin-modified channels. Veratridine-modified channels exhibited a range of single-channel conductance and subconductance states. The selectivity of the veratridine-modified sodium channels for sodium vs. potassium ranged from 6-8 in reversal potential measurements, while conductance ratios ranged from 12-15. This is similar to BTX-modified eel channels, though the latter show a predominant single-channel conductance twice as large. In contrast to batrachotoxin-modified channels, the fractional open times of these channels had a shallow voltage dependence which, however, was similar to that of the slow interaction between veratridine and sodium channels in voltage-clamped biological membranes. Implications for sodium channel structure are discussed.


1986 ◽  
Vol 250 (3) ◽  
pp. C361-C364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Oosawa ◽  
M. Sokabe

Single-channel conductance of the K+ channel from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) was reduced by aminoglycoside antibiotics such as neomycin and ribostamycin and also by n-hexylamine from either side of the membrane in a dose- and voltage-dependent manner. K+ channels were incorporated into an artificial phospholipid bilayer. This inhibition follows a single-site titration curve. The voltage dependence of the inhibition is explained by assuming that these drugs bind to the open state of a single channel on one site located approximately 40% of the way through the membrane from the cis side (the side to which SR vesicles are added) when drugs are added to the cis side and bind on another site located approximately 40% of the way through the membrane from the trans side (the opposite side to the cis side) when drugs are added to the trans side.


1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 645-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Mayer ◽  
G. L. Westbrook ◽  
L. Vyklicky

1. Mouse hippocampal neurons in dissociated culture were grown at low density on previously plated hippocampal glial cell cultures and voltage clamped using the tight seal whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Flow pipes were used to rapidly exchange the extracellular solution, and to apply N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and some NMDA antagonists. Fluctuation analysis was used to estimate changes in the behavior of NMDA-activated ion channels during application of antagonists. In the presence of NMDA control spectra were well fit by single Lorentzian functions consistent with mean open times of 5-6 ms. 2. Two antagonists thought to act at the NMDA receptor agonist recognition site, 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5) and kynurenic acid, did not produce changes in the mean open time or single channel conductance, consistent with their action as competitive antagonists. Onset of antagonism and recovery from the action of both AP5 and kynurenic acid was rapid and complete within 1 s. However, raising the extra-cellular glycine concentration, from 1 microM to 1 mM, reduced the potency of 100 microM kynurenic acid as an NMDA antagonist, suggesting that kynurenate has an additional action as a competitive antagonist at the glycine modulatory site on NMDA receptor channels. 3. In the presence of 150 microM magnesium NMDA spectra recorded at -60 mV were fit by double Lorentzian functions, consistent with single-channel events consisting of bursts of openings lasting 3.3 ms in duration, interrupted by blocking and unblocking events of average duration 0.18 ms. The onset and recovery from magnesium antagonism was rapid, and complete within 1 s, but was highly voltage dependent and at +40 mV magnesium (150 microM) failed to produce NMDA antagonism. These results are consistent with a voltage-dependent channel block of NMDA receptor channels produced by binding of magnesium to a site within the ion channel. 4. Zinc (30 microM) was a potent NMDA antagonist at both -60 and +40 mV, and at either potential appeared to reduce the mean open time of NMDA-activated ion channels from about 5 ms to approximately 3 ms. Over the frequency range measured, 1-1,000 Hz, NMDA spectra were well fit by single Lorentzians during zinc antagonism, in contrast to results obtained with magnesium. The mean single channel conductance also decreased in the presence of zinc to approximately 75% of control. Onset of antagonism and recovery from the action of zinc was rapid and complete within 1 s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


1993 ◽  
Vol 101 (5) ◽  
pp. 767-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
P A Smith ◽  
F M Aschroft ◽  
C M Fewtrell

Ba2+ currents through L-type Ca2+ channels were recorded from cell-attached patches on mouse pancreatic beta cells. In 10 mM Ba2+, single-channel currents were recorded at -70 mV, the beta cell resting membrane potential. This suggests that Ca2+ influx at negative membrane potentials may contribute to the resting intracellular Ca2+ concentration and thus to basal insulin release. Increasing external Ba2+ increased the single-channel current amplitude and shifted the current-voltage relation to more positive potentials. This voltage shift could be modeled by assuming that divalent cations both screen and bind to surface charges located at the channel mouth. The single-channel conductance was related to the bulk Ba2+ concentration by a Langmuir isotherm with a dissociation constant (Kd(gamma)) of 5.5 mM and a maximum single-channel conductance (gamma max) of 22 pS. A closer fit to the data was obtained when the barium concentration at the membrane surface was used (Kd(gamma) = 200 mM and gamma max = 47 pS), which suggests that saturation of the concentration-conductance curve may be due to saturation of the surface Ba2+ concentration. Increasing external Ba2+ also shifted the voltage dependence of ensemble currents to positive potentials, consistent with Ba2+ screening and binding to membrane surface charge associated with gating. Ensemble currents recorded with 10 mM Ca2+ activated at more positive potentials than in 10 mM Ba2+, suggesting that external Ca2+ binds more tightly to membrane surface charge associated with gating. The perforated-patch technique was used to record whole-cell currents flowing through L-type Ca2+ channels. Inward currents in 10 mM Ba2+ had a similar voltage dependence to those recorded at a physiological Ca2+ concentration (2.6 mM). BAY-K 8644 (1 microM) increased the amplitude of the ensemble and whole-cell currents but did not alter their voltage dependence. Our results suggest that the high divalent cation solutions usually used to record single L-type Ca2+ channel activity produce a positive shift in the voltage dependence of activation (approximately 32 mV in 100 mM Ba2+).


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