title: Ion channels in the human red blood cell membrane: their further investigation and physiological relevance.
abstract: Using the patch-clamp technique, two different ion channels have been characterized further in the human red blood cell (RBC) membrane. We demonstrate that the non-selective cation channel (NSC) is permeable to Ca(2+) and can be activated by prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). Therefore, the physiological role of this channel could be, together with the Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel, the participation in the process of blood clot formation. We give also evidence that another channel in the RBC membrane, so far assumed to be a small conductance anion channel, is more likely to be a proton or a hydroxyl ion channel.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Section, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstr. 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaestner
authors.forename: Ingolf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
mesh_terms: D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels