From Funny Current to HCN Channels: 20 Years of Excitation

Physiology ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Accili ◽  
C. Proenza ◽  
M. Baruscotti ◽  
D. DiFrancesco
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Cardiac Cells ◽  
Hcn Channels ◽  
Pacemaker Current ◽  
Channel Conductance ◽  
Single Channel Conductance ◽  
Pacemaker Channels ◽  
Channel Properties ◽  
Insight Into

The “funny” (pacemaker) current has unusual characteristics, including activation on hyperpolarization, permeability to K+ and Na+, modulation by internal cAMP, and a tiny, single-channel conductance. In cardiac cells and neurons, pacemaker channels control repetitive activity and excitability. The recent cloning of HCN subunits provides new insight into the molecular basis for the funny channel properties.

Chloride efflux inhibits single calcium channel open probability in vertebrate photoreceptors: Chloride imaging and cell-attached patch-clamp recordings

2000 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
WALLACE B. THORESON ◽  
RON NITZAN ◽  
ROBERT F. MILLER
Keyword(s):  
Time Distribution ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Channel Conductance ◽  
Single Channel Conductance ◽  
Open Probability ◽  
Pipette Solution ◽  
Open Time ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Channel Properties ◽  
Distribution Fit

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.

scholarly journals Connexin 46 and connexin 50 gap junction channel open stability and unitary conductance are shaped by structural and dynamic features of their N-terminal domains

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benny Yue ◽  
Bassam G. Haddad ◽  
Umair Khan ◽  
Honghong Chen ◽  
Mena Atalla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Md Simulation ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Dynamical Behavior ◽  
The Body ◽  
Channel Conductance ◽  
Single Channel Conductance ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Gap Junction Channel ◽  
Functional Differences ◽  
Channel Properties

AbstractThe connexins form intercellular communication channels, known as gap junctions (GJs), that facilitate diverse physiological roles in vertebrate species, ranging from electrical coupling and long-range chemical signaling, to coordinating development and nutrient exchange. GJs formed by different connexins are expressed throughout the body and harbor unique channel properties that have not been fully defined mechanistically. Recent structural studies have implicated the amino-terminal (NT) domain as contributing to isoform-specific functional differences that exist between the lens connexins, Cx50 and Cx46. To better understand the structural and functional differences in the two closely related, yet functionally distinct GJs, we constructed models corresponding to CryoEM-based structures of the wildtype Cx50 and Cx46 GJs, NT domain swapped chimeras (Cx46-50NT and Cx50-46NT), and point variants at the 9th residue (Cx46-R9N and Cx50-N9R) for comparative MD simulation and electrophysiology studies. All of these constructs formed functional GJ channels, except Cx46-50NT, which correlated with increased dynamical behavior (instability) of the NT domain observed by MD simulation. Single channel conductance (γj) also correlated well with free-energy landscapes predicted by MD, where γj of Cx46-R9N was increased from Cx46 and the γjs of Cx50-46NT and Cx50-N9R was decreased from Cx50, but to a surprisingly greater degree. Additionally, we observed significant effects on transjunctional voltage-dependent gating (Vj-gating) and open-state dwell times induced by the designed NT domain variants. Together, these studies indicate that the NT domains of Cx46 and Cx50 play an important role in defining channel properties related to open-state stability and single channel conductance.

Single-channel properties of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors containing chimaeric GluN2A/GluN2D subunits

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1347-1354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy O'Leary ◽  
David J.A. Wyllie
Keyword(s):  
Single Channel ◽  
Channel Blockers ◽  
Biophysical Properties ◽  
Channel Conductance ◽  
Single Channel Conductance ◽  
Glutamate Binding ◽  
Deactivation Kinetics ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Channel Properties ◽  
Nmdar Subunits

Subtypes of NMDARs (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors) display differences in their pharmacological and biophysical properties. The differences are, to a large extent, determined by the identities of the GluN2 (glutamate-binding) NMDAR subunits that are co-expressed with GluN1 (glycine-binding) subunits, which form the final tetrameric NMDAR assembly. Of the four GluN2 subunits that exist (termed A–D), NMDARs composed of GluN1/GluN2A and GluN1/GluN2D subunits display the greatest differences in their sensitivities to a variety of agonists, antagonists and channel blockers as well as showing marked differences in their single-channel conductances and deactivation kinetics. Here, we describe a series of experiments where we have generated and studied two chimaeric GluN2A/GluN2D subunits. The first chimaera, referred to as GluN2A(2D-M1M2M3), replaces the membrane-associated regions M1, M2 and M3 of the GluN2A subunit with the corresponding regions found in the GluN2D subunit. The second chimaera, GluN2A(2D-S1M1M2M3S2), replaces the same three membrane-associated regions of the GluN2A subunit plus the LBD (ligand-binding domain) with the corresponding regions of the GluN2D subunit. Our results show that the identity of the GluN2 LBD not only controls glutamate potency, but also influences the potency of the NMDAR co-agonist glycine, whereas the single-channel conductance and the duration of single activations of ion channels can be predicted by the identities of the M1–M3 regions and the LBD.

scholarly journals Lack of negative slope in I-V plots for BK channels at positive potentials in the absence of intracellular blockers

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
pp. 493-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanyan Geng ◽  
Xiaoyu Wang ◽  
Karl L. Magleby
Keyword(s):  
Single Channel ◽  
Bk Channels ◽  
Negative Slope ◽  
Channel Conductance ◽  
Single Channel Conductance ◽  
Linear Current ◽  
Joint Application ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Α Subunits

Large-conductance, voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels display near linear current–voltage (I-V) plots for voltages between −100 and +100 mV, with an increasing sublinearity for more positive potentials. As is the case for many types of channels, BK channels are blocked at positive potentials by intracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+. This fast block progressively reduces single-channel conductance with increasing voltage, giving rise to a negative slope in the I-V plots beyond about +120 mV, depending on the concentration of the blockers. In contrast to these observations of pronounced differences in the magnitudes and shapes of I-V plots in the absence and presence of intracellular blockers, Schroeder and Hansen (2007. J. Gen. Physiol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1085/jgp.200709802) have reported identical I-V plots in the absence and presence of blockers for BK channels, with both plots having reduced conductance and negative slopes, as expected for blockers. Schroeder and Hansen included both Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the intracellular solution rather than a single blocker, and they also studied BK channels expressed from α plus β1 subunits, whereas most previous studies used only α subunits. Although it seems unlikely that these experimental differences would account for the differences in findings between previous studies and those of Schroeder and Hansen, we repeated the experiments using BK channels comprised of α plus β1 subunits with joint application of 2.5 mM Ca2+ plus 2.5 mM Mg2+, as Schroeder and Hansen did. In contrast to the findings of Schroeder and Hansen of identical I-V plots, we found marked differences in the single-channel I-V plots in the absence and presence of blockers. Consistent with previous studies, we found near linear I-V plots in the absence of blockers and greatly reduced currents and negative slopes in the presence of blockers. Hence, studies of conductance mechanisms for BK channels should exclude intracellular Ca2+/Mg2+, as they can reduce conductance and induce negative slopes.

ATP-sensitive K(+)-selective channels of inner medullary collecting duct cells

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (3) ◽  
pp. F489-F496 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Sansom ◽  
T. Mougouris ◽  
S. Ono ◽  
T. D. DuBose
Keyword(s):  
Single Channel ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Channel Conductance ◽  
Single Channel Conductance ◽  
Inner Medullary Collecting Duct ◽  
Outward Currents ◽  
Inward Currents ◽  
Excised Patches ◽  
Medullary Collecting Duct

The inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) in vivo has the capacity to either secrete or reabsorb K+. However, a selective K+ conductance has not been described previously in the IMCD. In the present study, the patch-clamp method was used to determine the presence and properties of K(+)-selective channels in the apical membrane of the inner medullary collecting duct cell line, mIMCD-3. Two types of K(+)-selective channels were observed in both cell-attached and excised patches. The most predominant K+ channel, a smaller conductance K+ channel (SK), was present in cell-attached patches with 140 mM KCl (high bath K+) but not with 135 mM NaCl plus 5 mM KCl (low bath K+) in the bathing solution. The single-channel conductance of SK was 36 pS with inward currents and 29 pS with outward currents in symmetrical 140 mM KCl. SK was insensitive to both voltage and Ca2+. However, SK was inhibited significantly by millimolar concentrations of ATP in excised patches. A second K(+)-selective channel [a larger K+ channel (BK)] displayed a single-channel conductance equal to 132 pS with inward currents and 90 pS with outward currents in symmetrical 140 mM KCl solutions. BK was intermittently activated in excised inside-out patches by Mg(2+)-ATP in concentrations from 1 to 5 mM. With complete removal of Mg2+, BK was insensitive to ATP. BK was also insensitive to potential and Ca2+ and was observed in cell-attached patches with 140 mM KCl in the bath solution. Both channels were blocked reversibly by 1 mM Ba2+ from the intracellular surface but not by external Ba2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Basolateral potassium channels in renal proximal tubule

1987 ◽  
Vol 253 (3) ◽  
pp. F476-F487 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sackin ◽  
L. G. Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Single Channel ◽  
Basolateral Membrane ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Channel Conductance ◽  
Single Channel Conductance ◽  
K Channels ◽  
Open Time ◽  
Excised Patches ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Inside Out

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).

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