Entry of Methylammonium and Ammonium Ions into Chara Internodal Cells

Low concentrations of ammonia and methylamine greatly affectmembrane transport by, and the electrical properties of, cellsof Chara corallina (=C. australis). In the presence of theseamines, influx of Cl^– and efflux of K⁺ increase and alarge depolarizing current flows through the cell membrane. Measurements with [¹⁴C]methylamine show that methylamine isabsorbed rapidly over a wide pH range, and that the absorptionisotherm is complex. Methylamine influx is not affected by presenceor absence of Cl^–, K⁺, or Na⁺, but is decreased by additionof . The depolarizing current is associated with a small increase in membrane conductance, except at highpH, and both these effects are reversible. The current showssaturation with increasing amine concentration; when methylamineis 10–12 times more concentrated than ammonia, it producesa current of the same magnitude. The results show that the amines enter the cells as cations( or CH₃) except where external pH is high, and that a specific, selective electrogenicporter is involved. There is no need to invoke active transport,as there is no evidence that internal amine concentrations exceedthe equilibrium (Nernst) concentrations.