细胞外Cs~+对内向整流钾通道(IRK1)的作用

采用双微电极电压箝(TEV)法研究Cs 对非洲爪蟾卵母细胞表达的内向整流钾通道(IRK1)的作用及其机制。细胞外Cs 造成的IRK1内向电流的失活是Cs 浓度、K 浓度、时间和电压依赖性的,因此Cs 一直被认为是IRK1的一种效率最大的快速通道阻断剂之一 ;当细胞外K 浓度为10mmol/L和90mmol/L时 ,电场分数δ分别为0.912±0.065和0.833±0.062 ,说明Cs 的作用位点随K 浓度的减少进入通道更深的地方。细胞外Cs 浓度增加或K 浓度减少可加快失活过程。因此只有在细胞外Cs 浓度减少至10μmol/L与K 浓度增加至90mmol/L时 ,Cs 造成的IRK1内向电流的失活程度最小 ,只有此时才可观察到细胞外Cs 时间依赖性和电压依赖性增加IRK1的瞬间内向电流(施加电压后1ms)的作用。使用三个指数拟合外推的分析结果表明 :细胞外Cs 对IRK1的瞬间内向电流(施加电压后0.5ms)增加作用更明显。细胞外Cs 对IRK1的外向电流几乎无作用 ;因为在细胞外加入Cs 后反转电位仅变化0.367±1.167mV ,所以IRK1对Cs 不通透。结论 :Cs 不只是IRK1的一快速的通道阻断剂 ,细胞外Cs 还可在增大IRK1内向电流的同时使作用的时程缩短。     

硫化氢对家兔窦房结起搏细胞的电生理效应

本研究应用细胞内微电极技术,观察硫化氢(hydrogen sulfide,H2S)对家兔窦房结起搏细胞的电生理效应.结果表明:(1)NaHs(H2S供体)50、100、200 μmol/L浓度依赖地降低家兔窦房结起搏细胞4相去极化速率及起搏放电频率.(2)ATP敏感性钾(ATP-sensitive K ,KATP)通道阻断剂格列苯脲(glybenclamide,Gli,20 μmol/L)阻断NariS(100 μmol/L)的电生理效应.(3)预先应用起搏离子流(pacemaker currenL,If)通道阻断剂氯化铯(CsCl,2 mmol/L)对Naris(100μmol/L.)的电生理效应无影响.(4)胱硫醚-γ裂解酶(cystathionine γ-lyase,CSE)的不可逆抑制剂DL-propargylglycine (PPG,200 μmol/L)的家兔窦房结起搏细胞的动作电位参数无影响.以上结果提示,H2S对家兔窦房结起搏细胞有负性变时作用,这些效应可能与其开放KATP通道,增加K 外流有关,与If无关.本实验没有发现窦房结起搏细胞内有CSE催化产生的内源性H2S的合成.     

白藜芦醇降低大鼠心室肌细胞内游离钙浓度

实验旨在研究白藜芦醇(resveratrol)对大鼠心室肌细胞内钙浓度(intracellular calcium concentratoin,[Ca2+]i)的影响.应用激光共聚焦显微镜技术记录心室肌细胞内的钙荧光强度.结果表明在正常台氏液和无钙台氏液中,白藜芦醇(15～60μmol/L)呈浓度依赖性地降低[Ca2+]i.蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶抑制剂正钒酸钠(sodium orthovanadate,1.0 mmol/L)和L型Ca2+通道激动剂Bay K8644(10 μmol/L)可部分抑制正常台氏液中白藜芦醇的效应.但NO合酶阻断剂L-NAME(1.0 mmol/L)对白藜芦醇的作用无影响.白藜芦醇也能明显抑制无钙台氏液中由低浓度ryanodine(1.0 nmol/L)引起的[Ca2+]i增加.当细胞外液钙浓度由1 mmol/L增加到10 mmol/L而诱发心室肌细胞钙超载时,部分心室肌细胞产生可传播的钙波,白藜芦醇(60 μmol/L)可降低钙波的传播速度和持续时间,最终阻断钙波.结果提示,白藜芦醇能够降低心室肌细胞内游离钙浓度,此作用可能与其抑制电压依赖性Ca2+通道、酩氨酸激酶和肌浆网内钙释放有关.     

氧化胁迫对Alkalibacterium sp. F26防御酶和辅因子的影响

将一株能够高产过氧化氢酶的低度嗜盐嗜碱茵Alkalibacterium sp.F26作为模式微生物,采用高效液相色谱技术测定胞内代谢物浓度,研究氧化胁迫对其防御酶活性和辅因子的影响.研究结果表明:相比低浓度H2O2(＜1 mmol/L)胁迫,此菌株在高浓度H2O2(＞1 mmol/L)胁迫下的应答表现曼为明显:经3 mmol/L H2O2胁迫后胞内CAT酶活为106.54 U/mg protein,是对照产量的1.76倍;ATP浓度则从对照浓度20.55 μmol/L下降到17.80 μmol/L;NAD 浓度自对照样品的69.89 μmol/L减少至31.77 μmol/L.由于ATP和NAD 浓度的减少,相比未经过H2O2胁迫菌体.细胞能荷值EC从0.77降低至0.68,NADH/NAD 则从0.08增加至0.41.然而,这种应答机制在细胞受到低浓度H2O2的胁迫后并不明显:除发现100 μmol/L H2O2能够导致细胞防御机制的激活而使胞内ATP浓度相比对照有所增加的情况外,经50 μmol/L和500 μmol/L H2O2胁迫后胞内ATP水平从对照的22.69 μmol/L只下降到22.38 μmol/L和13.70 μmol/L;并且此种胁迫条件下NADH浓度变化也不显著.     

过氧化氢对蚕豆气孔运动和质膜K+通道的影响

不同浓度H2 O2 可使蚕豆 (ViciafabaL .)叶片气孔关闭 ,抑制气孔张开 ,10mmol/L的H2 O2 最有效 ,10 μmol/L的H2 O2 仍明显使气孔关闭。且 10 μmol/L的H2 O2 抑制气孔张开作用能被EGTA所消除 ,表明Ca2 参与低浓度H2 O2 使气孔关闭的过程。 2mmol/L的H2 O2 可使质膜内向K 通道电流明显减小 ,而外向K 通道电流显著增加。因此 ,H2 O2 促进蚕豆气孔关闭主要是通过抑制K 通过保卫细胞质膜内向流入 ,或加强K 外向流出实现的     

胍丁胺对大鼠心室肌细胞内游离钙浓度的影响

本研究旨在观察胍丁胺 (agmatine ,Agm)对分离大鼠心室肌细胞内游离钙浓度 ( [Ca2 +]i)的影响。用酶解方法分离大鼠心室肌细胞 ,用Fluo 3 AM负载 ,然后用激光共聚焦法测定单个心室肌细胞 [Ca2 +]i 的荧光强度 (fluorescenceintensity ,FI) ,结果以FI或相对荧光强度 (F/F0 % )表示。实验结果表明 ,在正常台氏液 (含钙 1 0mmol/L)和无钙台氏液中 ,单个大鼠心室肌细胞的荧光密度分别为 12 8 8± 13 8和 119 6± 13 6,两者无差异。Agm 0 1、1和 10mmol/L浓度依赖性地显著降低细胞的钙浓度 ;在正常台氏液中加入EGTA 3mmol/L ,Agm同样降低细胞的钙浓度。KCl 60mmol/L ,PE 3 0 μmol/L ,和Bay K 864 410 μmol/L均升高心室肌细胞的[Ca2 +]i。Agm同样降低高浓度KCl、Bay K 864 4和PE诱发的心室肌细胞 [Ca2 +]i 升高。当细胞外液钙浓度由 1mmol/L增加到 10mmol/L时 ,诱发心室肌细胞钙超载 ,同时部分心室肌细胞产生可传播的钙波 (Ca2 +wave) ,Agm 1mmol/L降低钙波的传播速度和持续时间 ,最终阻断钙波。以上结果提示 ,Agm对心室肌细胞的胞浆[Ca2 +]i具有抑制作用 ,此作用通过阻断电压依赖性钙通道而实现 ;并可能与抑制大鼠心室肌细胞内钙释放有关     

霉菌毒素 Dihydroxyaflavinine 非竞争性抑制在爪蟾卵母细胞内表达的 GABA_A 受体通道

Dihydroxyaflavinine 是黄曲霉菌(Aspergillus flavus)的吲哚类代谢物。我们将鸡脑mRNA 注入爪蟾卵母细胞表达得到 GABA_A 受体通道,然后用电压箝记录方法定量研究了dihydroxyaflavinine 对 GABA 电流反应的作用。Dihydroxyaflavinine 非竞争性阻断GABA 电流反应(K_I=12μmol/L),撤药后反应迅速恢复。作为比较,青霉素对 GABA_A受体的抑制作用随 GABA 浓度的升高而增加。浓度高达1μmol/L 苯二氮(艹卓)位点配体 Ro 15-1788(KD=0.6—2nmol/L)不能阻断10μmol/L dihydroxyaflavinine 的作用,说明 dihy-droxyaflavinine 不作用于 GABA_A 受体的苯二氮(艹卓)位点。Dihydroxyaflavinine 类似印防已毒素,表观上加速 GABA_A 受体的脱敏过程,而青霉素和荷包牡丹碱与此相反。     

咪达唑仑对hERG钾通道的作用

目的:观察咪达唑仑对人胚肾上皮细胞(HEK-293)中异源表达的人类相关基因(h ERG)钾电流作用及其机制。方法:利用全细胞膜片钳技术,观察咪达唑仑对h ERG钾通道的抑制作用,分析其对通道激活、失活动力学过程的影响以及咪达唑仑对Y652A和F656C突变型h ERG钾通道的作用。结果:咪达唑仑浓度依赖性地抑制h ERG钾电流,其IC50值为(1.31±0.32)μmol/L。1.0μmol/L的咪达唑仑加药前后半数激活电压V1/2由(2.32±0.38)m V变为(-1.96±0.83)m V;加药前后半数失活电压V1/2由(-49.25±0.69)m V变为(-57.53±0.53)m V(P0.05),失活曲线左移;与野生型(WT)比较,Y652A和F656C突变型可显著减弱咪达唑仑对h ERG通道的阻断作用。结论:咪达唑仑能阻断h ERG钾通道,失活速度加快,Y652和F656可能是咪达唑仑与h ERG钾通道结合的关键位点。     

电压调节钙通道有三种类型

采用电生理和药理技术证明,细胞膜上存在三种类型的钙通道,即 T(瞬时)型、N(神经元)型和 L(长程)型。在神经元、心肌、骨骼肌、平滑肌和神经内分泌细胞上可检出含量可变的 L 型和 T 型通道。T 型通道为低电压激活、快速失活通道,流入钙量与流入钡量相等或略高,而 L 型通道则为高电压激活,不失活或缓慢失活通道,它流入的钡量多于钙量。N 型通道仅存在于神经元。T 型通道不受已知的钙通道激动剂、阻滞剂或毒素影响,但可被0.1mmol/L 镍阻断,在某些神经元亦可被0.1mmol/L 苯妥英(phenytoin)阻断。N 型和 L 型通道可被低浓度(20μmol/L)的镉阻断,N 型和神经元     

雷公藤单体T10对Aβ1-42所致PC12细胞凋亡的抑制作用

阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)是发病率最高的中枢神经系统退变性疾病.目前AD的病因不清,亦无有效的防治手段,其重要的原因是尚无适宜的AD模型.因此,本实验首先建立了PC12细胞系β淀粉样蛋白(p-amyloid,Aβ)细胞损伤模型,在此基础上,探讨了中药免疫抑制剂雷公藤单体T10对细胞的保护作用及其机制.首先用不同浓度的Aβ(5×10、5×10-3、5×10-2、5×10、5、50 μmol/L)与PC12细胞共孵育48 h,用MTT法检测细胞存活率.选取Aβ致使细胞存活率降低的浓度(0.5、5、50 μmol/L)与PC12细胞共孵育48 h,通过流式细胞仪检测凋亡细胞百分比.用1×10-11mol/L的T10预孵育PC12细胞48 h后,加入50μmol/L Ap共孵育48 h,亦用流式细胞仪检测凋亡细胞百分比,激光共聚焦显微镜检测细胞内钙离子浓度变化.结果显示,Aβ的浓度存50μmol/L时可使细胞存活率降低至55.1%,凋亡细胞比例显著增加,而1×10-11mol/L的T10可明显降低50 μmol/L Aβ诱导的PC12细胞死亡.50 μmol/L Aβ可促进PC12细胞胞外钙离子内流,1×10-11mol/L的T10对Ap诱导的胞外钙离子内流有抑制作用.这些观察结果表明T10对Ap导致的PC12细胞损伤具有明显的保护作用,其机制可能与抑制Aβ诱导的胞内钙离子浓度升高和细胞凋亡有关.     

Mechanism of Maxi-K Channel Activation by Dehydrosoyasaponin-I

Dehydrosoyasaponin-I (DHS-I) is a potent activator of high-conductance, calcium-activated potassium (maxi-K) channels. Interaction of DHS-I with maxi-K channels from bovine aortic smooth muscle was studied after incorporating single channels into planar lipid bilayers. Nanomolar amounts of intracellular DHS-I caused the appearance of discrete episodes of high channel open probability interrupted by periods of apparently normal activity. Statistical analysis of these periods revealed two clearly separable gating modes that likely reflect binding and unbinding of DHS-I. Kinetic analysis of durations of DHS-I-modified modes suggested DHS-I activates maxi-K channels through a high-order reaction. Average durations of DHS-I-modified modes increased with DHS-I concentration, and distributions of these mode durations contained two or more exponential components. In addition, dose-dependent increases in channel open probability from low initial values were high order with average Hill slopes of 2.4–2.9 under different conditions, suggesting at least three to four DHS-I molecules bind to maximally activate the channel. Changes in membrane potential over a 60-mV range appeared to have little effect on DHS-I binding. DHS-I modified calcium- and voltage-dependent channel gating. 100 nM DHS-I caused a threefold decrease in concentration of calcium required to half maximally open channels. DHS-I shifted the midpoint voltage for channel opening to more hyperpolarized potentials with a maximum shift of −105 mV. 100 nM DHS-I had a larger effect on voltage-dependent compared with calcium-dependent channel gating, suggesting DHS-I may differentiate these gating mechanisms. A model specifying four identical, noninteracting binding sites, where DHS-I binds to open conformations with 10–20-fold higher affinity than to closed conformations, explained changes in voltage-dependent gating and DHS-I-induced modes. This model of channel activation by DHS-I may provide a framework for understanding protein structures underlying maxi-K channel gating, and may provide a basis for understanding ligand activation of other ion channels.     

Sodium channel functioning based on an octagonal structure model

The complete amino acid sequence of a sodium channel from squid Loligo bleekeri has been deduced by cloning and sequence analysis of the complementary DNA. A unique feature of the squid sodium channel is the 1,522 residue sequence, approximately three-fourths of those of the rat sodium channels I, II and III. On the basis of the sequence, and in comparison with those of vertebrate sodium channels, we have proposed a tertiary structure model of the sodium channel where the transmembrane segments are octagonally aligned and the four linkers of S5–6 between segments S5 and S6 play a crucial role in the activation gate, voltage sensor and ion selective pore, which can slide, depending on membrane potentials, along inner walls consisting of alternating segments S2 and S4. The proposed octagonal structure model is contrasted with that of Noda et al. (Nature 320; 188–192, 1986). The octagonal structure model can explain the gating of activation and inactivation, and ion selectivity, as well as the action mechanism of both tetrodotoxin (TTX) and -scorpion toxin (ScTX), and can be applied not only to the sodium channel, but also to the calcium channel, potassium channel and cGMP-gated channel.The authors would like to express our cordial acknowledgments to Dr. Hideo Tani (Kowa) and Drs. Masahiko Fujino and Haruo Onda (Takeda Pharmaceutical) for their kind support for us to utilize their experimental facilities for DNA cloning and as well as for their stimulating and helpful discussions. We also thank Drs. Toshio Iijima, Michinori Ichikawa, Kiyonori Hirota, Messrs. Tadashi Kimura and Osamu Shono and all our colleagues (Supermolecular Science Division, Electrotechnical Laboratory) for their kind support to collect and isolate optic lobes from live squid. We greatly thank Professors Takuji Takeuchi (University of Tohoku) and David Landowne (University of Miami) for their illuminating discussions and valuable comments.     

A comparison of sodium channel kinetics in the squid axon,the frog node and the frog node with BTX using the “silent gate” model

In this paper it is shown that the very different kinetics measured for the rise of the sodium current which follows a depolarization of the membrane in the squid giant axon, the frog node and the frog node treated with Batrachotoxin may be accurately predicted using only the measured equilibrium and static characteristics for the three preparations and the kinetics measured for the gating charge transfer.The kinetic predictions follow the use of the silent gate model for ion channel gating. The model is electrostatic and its chief assumptions are that the channel gate, called here the N-system, has fast kinetics and responds to the gating charge that transfers but not directly to the trans-membrane voltage applied. Because channel gating, corresponding here to the motion of the N-system, does not change its energy in the trans-membrane applied electric field the gating is electrically silent as far as gating charge transfer measurement is concerned. However the probability of gating rises with the quantity of gating charge that transfers due to the electrostatic interaction between the N-system and the gating charge, redistributed under the influence of the applied trans-membrane electric field. With these assumptions the kinetics of sodium channel gating are predictable using only the static and equilibrium characteristics of gating charge and channel activation measured as a function of membrane voltage, and the kinetics of the gating charge transfer. Because of the fast kinetics assumed for the N-system the predicted kinetics are the same for channels with any number of equivalent and independent N-systems or gates acting in parallel.The model predictions for sodium permeability kinetics are compared in detail with those recently measured for the frog node treated with Batrachotoxin and excellent agreement is obtained.     

The amino terminus of Slob, Slowpoke channel binding protein, critically influences its modulation of the channel

The Drosophila Slowpoke calcium-dependent potassium channel (dSlo) binding protein Slob was discovered by a yeast two-hybrid screen using the carboxy-terminal tail region of dSlo as bait. Slob binds to and modulates the dSlo channel. We have found that there are several Slob proteins, resulting from multiple translational start sites and alternative splicing, and have named them based on their molecular weights (in kD). The larger variants, which are initiated at the first translational start site and are called Slob71 and Slob65, shift the voltage dependence of dSlo activation, measured by the whole cell conductance-voltage relationship, to the left (less depolarized voltages). Slob53 and Slob47, initiated at the third translational start site, also shift the dSlo voltage dependence to the left. In contrast, Slob57 and Slob51, initiated at the second translational start site, shift the conductance-voltage relationship of dSlo substantially to more depolarized voltages, cause an apparent dSlo channel inactivation, and increase the deactivation rate of the channel. These results indicate that the amino-terminal region of Slob plays a critical role in its modulation of dSlo.     

Electrophysiological Properties of Ion Channels in Ascaris suum Tissue Incorporated into Planar Lipid Bilayers

Ion channels are important targets of anthelmintic agents. In this study, we identified 3 types of ion channels in Ascaris suum tissue incorporated into planar lipid bilayers using an electrophysiological technique. The most frequent channel was a large-conductance cation channel (209 pS), which accounted for 64.5% of channels incorporated (n=60). Its open-state probability (P_o) was ~0.3 in the voltage range of −60~+60 mV. A substate was observed at 55% of the main-state. The permeability ratio of Cl⁻ to K⁺ (P_Cl/P_K) was ~0.5 and P_Na/P_K was 0.81 in both states. Another type of cation channel was recorded in 7.5% of channels incorporated (n=7) and discriminated from the large-conductance cation channel by its smaller conductance (55.3 pS). Its Po was low at all voltages tested (~0.1). The third type was an anion channel recorded in 27.9% of channels incorporated (n=26). Its conductance was 39.0 pS and P_Cl/P_K was 8.6±0.8. P_o was ~1.0 at all tested potentials. In summary, we identified 2 types of cation and 1 type of anion channels in Ascaris suum. Gating of these channels did not much vary with voltage and their ionic selectivity is rather low. Their molecular nature, functions, and potentials as anthelmintic drug targets remain to be studied further.     

The pore structure and gating mechanism of K2P channels

Two-pore domain (K2P) potassium channels are important regulators of cellular electrical excitability. However, the structure of these channels and their gating mechanism, in particular the role of the bundle-crossing gate, are not well understood. Here, we report that quaternary ammonium (QA) ions bind with high-affinity deep within the pore of TREK-1 and have free access to their binding site before channel activation by intracellular pH or pressure. This demonstrates that, unlike most other K(+) channels, the bundle-crossing gate in this K2P channel is constitutively open. Furthermore, we used QA ions to probe the pore structure of TREK-1 by systematic scanning mutagenesis and comparison of these results with different possible structural models. This revealed that the TREK-1 pore most closely resembles the open-state structure of KvAP. We also found that mutations close to the selectivity filter and the nature of the permeant ion profoundly influence TREK-1 channel gating. These results demonstrate that the primary activation mechanisms in TREK-1 reside close to, or within the selectivity filter and do not involve gating at the cytoplasmic bundle crossing.     

Pulse stimulation with odors or IBMX/forskolin potentiates responses in isolated olfactory neurons

Many odor responses are mediated by the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) pathway in which the cAMP-gated current is amplified by Ca2+-dependent Cl- current. In olfactory neurons, prolonged exposure to odors decreases the odor response and is an adaptive effect. Several studies suggest that odor adaptation is linked to elevated intracellular Ca2+. In the present study, using the perforated configuration of the patch clamp technique, we found that repetitive odor stimulation elicits a potentiation of the subsequent responses in olfactory neurons. This potentiation is mimicked by stimulating the cAMP pathway and does not appear to be related to phosphorylation of ion channels since protein kinase inhibitors could not block it. Our data suggest that local increases in [Ca2+]i via activation of the cAMP pathway mediate the pulse-elicited potentiation. In the first odor application, entry of Ca2+ through cyclic nucleotide-gated channels appears to be buffered. Repetitive stimulation allows local increases in [Ca2+]i, recruiting more Ca2+-dependent Cl- channels with each subsequent odor pulse.