Gating kinetics of potassium channel and effects of nerve growth factors in PC12 cells analyzed with fractal model.
OBJECTIVE
To study the gating kinetics of voltage-dependent K+ channels i n clonal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on it.


METHODS
Outward currents of K+ channel were recorded in PC12 cells cultured with or without NGF using cell-attached patch-clamp technique. The kinetic features of K+ channel and the effect of NGF on them were analyzed based on t he fractal model.


RESULTS
The fractal dimension D for the closed durations of K+ channel in PC12 cells cultured without NGF was proportional to the absolute value of the pipette potential (Vp). Whereas the fractal dimension D' was inversely proportional to it. Under pipette potentials of 0, -30, -50, and -70 mV, the values of D were 1.75, 1.88, 1.95, and 2; and of D' were 1.51, 1.40, 1.34, and 1.23. After the addition of NGF the changes in the fractal dimensions became more complex. At the same pipette potential, fractal dimensions for K+ channel in PC12 cells cultured with NGF for both the open and closed durations were not greater than those in PC12 cells cultured without NGF. The kinetic setpoints for both the close and open durations did not vary with the pipette potential with values as follows: A (without NGF) = 0.29 +\ -0.05, A(with NGF) = 0.71 +\- 0.06, A' without NGF) = 0.110 +\- 0.020, and A' (with NGF) = 0.38 +\- 0.08.


CONCLUSIONS
The voltage dependence of D (without NGF) increases the probability of the channel for remaining closed for long durations as the patch is depolarized, and that of D' (without NGF) decreases the probability of the channel for remaining open for long durations as the patch is depolarized. The addition of NG F in the PC12 cell culture accelerates the dynamic process of the K+ channel occurring over long time scales.
Liu
X M
XM
School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
Tao
M
M
Han
X D
XD
Fan
Q
Q
Lin
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D017709:Fractals; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats
D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor