title: Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.
abstract: Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels were identified in CHO-K1 cells, currently used in molecular biology studies. Experimental data obtained at both macroscopic and single-channel levels using the patch-clamp technique show that the Ca2+ current in CHO cells is similar to the high-threshold L-type of Ca2+ current previously observed in excitable cells. It can be carried by Ca2+ or Ba2+ ions, blocked by both inorganic (Co2+) and organic (nifedipine, isradipine) Ca2+ channel blockers. The unitary Ca2+ channel activity was characterized by a conductance of 19 pS in 60 mM Ca2+, by single exponential distribution of open times (t = 0.84 ms) and biexponential distribution of closed times (tf = 1.67 ms, ts = 7.9 ms). However, the functional role of these Ca2+ channels in CHO cells remains unclear.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology, CNRS URA 1200, University of Bordeaux II, CNRS URA 1200, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Skryma
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prevarskaya
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vacher
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dufy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000502:physiology; D016466:CHO Cells; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004594:Electrophysiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D001464:Barium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium