Novel ion channels in the protists, Mougeotia and Saprolegnia, using sub-gigaseals

Protoplasts of the filamentous alga, Mougeotia, and the filamentous fungal oomycete, Saprolegnia ferax, exhibit two K⁺ ion channels (2–6 pA) using the patch-clamp technique when the seals are less than 1 GΩ (about 100 MΩ). The membrane potential of the protoplasts was near 0 mV as measured intracellularly with double-barreled micropipettes; thus, inward K⁺ flux is due solely to concentration differences. Although conductances are in the range expected for K⁺ channels, the activity at 0 mV is not seen in other organisms under gigaseal conditions. This paper draws attention to the usefulness of this subsidiary patch-clamp technique and the novel characteristics of ion channels in Mougeotia and Saprolegnia.