title: Comment on "Local impermeant anions establish the neuronal chloride concentration".
abstract: Glykys et al. (Reports, 7 February 2014, p. 670) conclude that, rather than ion transporters, "local impermeant anions establish the neuronal chloride concentration" and thereby determine "the magnitude and direction of GABAAR currents at individual synapses." If this were possible, perpetual ion-motion machines could be constructed. The authors' conclusions conflict with basic thermodynamic principles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. juha.voipio@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voipio
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Walter F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Boron
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hopfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaila
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018118:Chloride Channels; D002712:Chlorides; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A