Novel ion channels in the protists, Mougeotia and Saprolegnia, using sub-gigaseals.
Protoplasts of the filamentous alga, Mougeotia, and the filamentous fungal oomycete, Saprolegnia ferax, exhibit two K+ ion channels (2-6 pA) using the patch-clamp technique when the seals are less than 1 G omega (about 100 M omega). The membrane potential of the protoplasts was near 0 mV as measured intracellularly with double-barreled micropipettes; thus, inward K+ flux is due solely to concentration differences. Although conductances are in the range expected for K+ channels, the activity at 0 mV is not seen in other organisms under gigaseal conditions. This paper draws attention to the usefulness of this subsidiary patch-clamp technique and the novel characteristics of ion channels in Mougeotia and Saprolegnia.
Lew
R R
RR
York University, Department of Biology, Ont., Canada.
Garrill
A
A
Covic
L
L
Heath
I B
IB
Serlin
B S
BS
D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000378:metabolism*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009868:Oomycetes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*
D015221:Potassium Channels