title: Pressure-sensitive ion channel in Escherichia coli.
abstract: We have used the patch-clamp electrical recording technique on giant spheroplasts of Escherichia coli and have discovered pressure-activated ion channels. The channels have the following properties: activation by slight positive or negative pressure; voltage dependence; large conductance; selectivity for anions over cations; dependence of activity on the species of permeant ions. We believe that these channels may be involved in bacterial osmoregulation and osmotaxis.
mesh_terms: D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D011312:Pressure; D013104:Spheroplasts / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels