title: Novel ion channels in the protists, Mougeotia and Saprolegnia, using sub-gigaseals.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: York University, Department of Biology, Ont., Canada.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garrill
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Covic
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Serlin
mesh_terms: D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000378:metabolism*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009868:Oomycetes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels