title: Plasma membrane potential of lymphocytes from ataxia telangiectasia patients.
abstract: The plasma membrane potential of lymphocytes prepared from ataxia telangiectasia (AT) patients and normal subjects was assessed using the optical indicator bis-(3-phenyl-5-oxoisoxazol-4-yl) pentamethineoxonol (oxonol-V). AT lymphocytes had a potential of -46 +/- 9 mV and normal lymphocytes had a potential of -63 +/- 4 mV. The intracellular cation content (Na+ and K+) of AT and normal lymphocytes was similar. AT and normal lymphocytes were both depolarized by extracellular K+ and to a similar extent. This study indicates that one feature characterizing ataxia telangiectasia is a modification of the ability of the lymphocyte cell membrane to sustain a normal membrane potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bashford
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pasternak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001260:Ataxia Telangiectasia / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014634:Valinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007555:Isoxazoles; D014634:Valinomycin; C013633:oxonol V