Plasma membrane Ca2+ channels in roots of higher plants and their role in aluminium toxicity

Single Ca²⁺ channel records were obtained from plasma membrane-enriched fractions of wheat roots incorporated into artificial planar lipid bilayers. The channel had a unitary conductance of 15 pS for a 10 to 95 mM CaCl₂ gradient (cytoplasm: outside of the cell). The voltage dependence displayed by the channel agreed with that expected for Ca²⁺ channels in the plasma membrane. The channel gating was strongly modified by addition of 20 M extracellular verapamil (a Ca²⁺ channel antagonist). Extracellular AlCl₃ (70 M, pH 4.9) almost completely blocked the channel.     

耐钙心肌细胞的分离和电生理特性观察

用快速、恒压的无钙和胶原酶Ｔｙｒｏｄｅ液相继灌流豚鼠心脏冠脉系统后,再经无钙液室温浸泡心脏和用改变的Ｋ－Ｂ液帮助分离细胞的恢复,可获得耐钙的游离心肌细胞。全细胞电流记录：静息电位为－７２±９ｍＶ（ｎ＝１２）,并显示出快内向电流（ＩＮａ）,可被异搏定阻断的慢钙离子流和时间依赖性外向钾流（Ｉｋ）;单通道记录分别显示了Ｎａ＋Ｃａ２＋和Ｋ＋通道的电压依赖性等特征。结果表明了用此法分离的细胞具有耐钙性和正常电生理特性。     

Effects of D2O on permeation and gating in the Ca2+-activated potassium channel fromChara

We studied the effects of H₂O/D₂O substitution on the permeation and gating of the large conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels inChara gymnophylla droplet membrane using the patchclamp technique. The selectivity sequence of the channel was: K⁺>Rb⁺≫Li⁺, Na⁺, Cs⁺ and Cl⁻. The conductance of this channel in symmetric 100mm KCl was found to be 130 pS. The single channel conductance was decreased by 15% in D₂O as compared to H₂O. The blockade of channel conductance by cytosolic Ca²⁺ weakened in D₂O as a result of a decrease in zero voltage Ca²⁺ binding affinity by a factor of 1.4. Voltage-dependent channel gating was affected by D₂O primarily due to the change in Ca²⁺ binding to the channel during the activation step. The Hill coefficient for Ca²⁺ binding was 3 in D₂O and around 1 in H₂O. The values of the Ca²⁺ binding constant in the open channel conformation were 0.6 and 6 μm in H₂O and D₂O, respectively, while the binding in the closed conformation was much less affected by D₂O. The H₂O/D₂O substitution did not produce a significant change in the slope of channel voltage dependence but caused a shift as large as 60 mV with 1mm internal Ca²⁺.     

ATP-inhibited and Ca2+-dependent K+ channels in the soma membrane of cultured leech Retzius neurons

The properties of one ATP-inhibited and one Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ channel were investigated by the patch-clamp technique in the soma membrane of leech Retzius neurons in primary culture. Both channels rectify at negative potentials. The ATP-inhibited K⁺ channel with a mean conductance of 112 pS is reversibly blocked by ATP (K _i = 100 m), TEA (K _i =0.8 mm) and 10 mm Ba²⁺ and irreversibly blocked by 10 nm glibenclamide and 10 m tolbutamide. It is Ca²⁺ and voltage independent. Its open state probability (P _o) decreases significantly when the pH at the cytoplasmic face of inside-out patches is altered from physiological to acid pH values. The Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ channel with a mean conductance of 114 pS shows a bell-shaped Ca²⁺ dependence of P _o with a maximum at pCa 7–8 at the cytoplasmic face of the membrane. The P _o is voltage independent at the physiologically relevant V range. Ba²⁺ (10 mm) reduces the single channel amplitude by around 25% (ATP, TEA, glibenclamide, tolbutamide, and Ba²⁺ were applied to the cytoplasmic face of the membrane).We conclude that the ATP-dependent K⁺ channel may play a role in maintaining the membrane potential constant—independently from the energy state of the cell. The Ca²⁺-dependent K⁺ channel may play a role in generating the resting membrane potential of leech Retzius neurons as it shows maximum activity at the physiological intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration.This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (W.-R. Schlue) and by a fellowship of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (G. Frey). We thank Dr. Draeger (Hoechst AG) for the gift of glibenclamide. The data are part of a future Ph.D. thesis of G. Frey.     

Tachykinins Potentiate N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Responses in Acutely Isolated Neurons from the Dorsal Horn

Abstract: Substance P and neurokinin A both potentiated N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA)-induced currents recorded in acutely isolated neurons from the dorsal horn of the rat. To elucidate the mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we measured the effects of tachykinins and glutamate receptor agonists on [Ca²⁺]_i in these cells. Substance P, but not neurokinin A, increased [Ca²⁺]_i in a subpopulation of neurons. The increase in [Ca²⁺]_i was found to be due to Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-sensitive Ca²⁺ channels. Substance P and neurokinin A also potentiated the increase in [Ca²⁺]_i produced by NMDA, but not by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid, kainate, or 50 m M K⁺. Phorbol esters enhanced the effects of NMDA and staurosporine inhibited the potentiation of NMDA effects by tachykinins. It is concluded that activation of protein kinase C may mediate the enhancement of NMDA effects by tachykinins in these cells. However, the effects of tachykinins on [Ca²⁺]_i can be dissociated from their effects on NMDA receptors.     

新生大鼠脊髓切片运动神经元的电生理参数测定

用微电极技术对新生大鼠脊髓横切薄片运动神经元(MN)进行细胞内记录,测得静息电位为-62±4mV(n=26),膜电阻为67±31MΩ,时间常数3.8±1.6ms,动作电位幅度68±7mV(n=26),阈电位-50±8mV,超射值6±4mV。灌流谷氨酸(1～30mmol/L)诱导伴膜电阻降低的缓慢去极化反应,5-羟色胺(50μmol/L)介导伴膜电导降低的电压依赖性内向电流。结果表明新生大鼠脊髓切片MN的细胞内生物电记录是一种稳定可靠的电生理学和药理学研究方法。     

Characterization of mechanosensitive channels in Escherichia coli cytoplasmic membrane by whole-cell patch clamp recording

Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were done on giant protoplasts of Escherichia coli. The pressure sensitivity of the protoplasts was studied. Two different unit conductance mechanosensitive channels, 1100 ± 25 pS and 350 ± 14 pS in 400 mm symmetric KCl solution, were observed upon either applying positive pressure to the interior of the cells or down shocking the cells osmotically. The 1100 pS conductance channel discriminated poorly among the monovalent ions tested and it was permeable to Ca²⁺ and glutamate^?. Both of the two channels were sensitive to the osmotic gradient across the membrane; the unit conductances of the channels remained constant while the mean current of the cell was increased by increasing the osmotic gradient. Both of the channels were voltage sensitive. Voltage-ramp results showed that the pressure sensitivity of protoplasts was voltage dependent: there were more channels active upon depolarization than hyperpolarization. The mech anosensitive channels were reversibly blocked by gadolinium ion. Also they could reversibly be inhibited by protons. Mutations in two of the potassium efflux systems, KefB and KefC, did not affect the channel activity, while a null mutation in the gene for KefA changed the channel activity significantly. This indicates a potential modulation of these channels by KefA.     

Human macrophages contain a stretch-sensitive potassium channel that is activated by adherence and cytokines

A variety of stimuli, including cytokines and adhesion to surfaces and matrix proteins, can regulate macrophage function, in part through changes in Ca²⁺-dependent second messengers. While fluctuation in in-tracellular Ca²⁺ is an important modulator of cellular activation, little attention has been paid to the roles of other ions whose cytoplasmic concentrations can be rapidly regulated by ion channels. To examine the role of ion channels in macrophage function, we undertook patch clamp studies of human culture-derived macrophages grown under serum-free conditions. The major ionic current in these cells was carried by an outwardly rectifying K⁺ channel, which had a single-channel conductance of 229 pS in symmetrical K⁺-rich solution and macroscopic whole-cell conductance of 9.8 nS. These channels opened infrequently in resting cells but were activated immediately by (i) adhesion of mobile cells onto a substrate, (ii) stretch applied to isolated membrane patches in Ca²⁺-free buffers, (iii) intracellular Ca²⁺ (EC₅₀ of 0.4 m), and (iv) the cytokine IL-2. Furthermore, barium and 4-aminopyridine, blockers of this channel, altered the organization and structure of the cytoskeletal proteins actin, tubulin and vimentin. These cytoskeletal changes were associated with reversible alteration to the morphology of the cells. Thus, we have identified an outwardly rectifying K⁺ channel that appeared to be involved in cytokine and adherence-mediated macrophage activation, and in the maintenance of cytoskeletal integrity and cell shape.We thank Ken Wyse and Sue Bennett for excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by the National Health & Medical Research Council of Australia, the National Heart Foundation of Australia, the Clive & Vera Ramaciotti Foundation of Australia, the St Vincent's Hospital Clinic Foundation and a St Vincent's Hospital Research Grant.