ISSN:
1432-1424
Keywords:
Acetabularia
;
K+ channels
;
kinetics
;
planar lipid bilayers
;
voltage dependence
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Summary Plasma membrane from Acetabularia acetabulum was prepared by aqueous-polymer two-phase partitioning and incorporated into planar 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine bilayers by stirring in the presence of a (cis∶trans) 325∶100 mm KCl gradient. Under these conditions five distinct K+-selective channels were observed which had unitary chord-conductances (determined between 30 mV either side of the reversal potential) and frequencies of incorporation (in parentheses) of 1,600 pS (26%), 485 pS (21%), 259 pS (53%), 140 pS (37%) and 27 pS (37%). Two Cl−-selective channels were also observed, which had unitary chord-conductances of 8 and 48 pS and were present in 21 and 16% of bilayers, respectively. The voltage dependencies of channel open probability (P o ), open-state time constant (τ o) and closed-state time constant (τ c) were determined for the 259, 140 and 27 pS K+ channels. The P o of all three channels increased with increasingly positive membrane potentials. Thus, since these channels were oriented with their extracellular face adjacent to the cis chamber, which was grounded, all would exhibit outward rectification in vivo. Changes in P o were effected by modulation of τ c in all channels, which shortened as membrane potentials became more positive, and also of τ o in the 140 and 27pS channels, which increased as membrane potentials became more positive. Extracellular (cis) KCl concentration (and/or the KCl gradient across the bilayer) affected the P o of all three K+ channels, shifting the P o /membrane potential relationship in the direction of the change in the potassium reversal potential. In all channels this was achieved largely by changes in τ c .
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00233795
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