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.
Szabo
I
I
CNR Unit, Institute of General Pathology, Padova, Italy.
Petronilli
V
V
Guerra
L
L
Zoratti
M
M
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