Cooperative mechanosensitive ion channels in Escherichia coli.
A patch-clamp investigation was carried out on giant Escherichia coli spheroplasts. The membrane exhibited stretch-induced as well as "spontaneous" activity, with similar characteristics, i.e., a large number of conductance values arising from the cooperative behavior of channels in functional clusters. It appears likely that the same molecular species are responsible for both stretch-induced and "spontaneous" current conduction; the channel multiplexes can either respond to membrane stretch or function in an activate state, presumably brought about by the previous application of the mechanical stimulus.
CNR Unit, Institute of General Pathology, Padova, Italy.
I
I
Szabo
V
V
Petronilli
L
L
Guerra
M
M
Zoratti
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D007473:Ion Channels