Memory is a property of an ion channels pool: ion channels formed by Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin. |
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| Authors: | O V Krasilnikov P G Merzliak R Z Sabirov B A Tashmuk-Hamedov |
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| Institution: | Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the UzSSR, Taishkent. |
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| Abstract: | The short-time depolarization effects on the integral conductance induced by S. aureus alpha-toxin (ST) in planar lipid bilayer membranes has been studied. Ion channels formed by ST were found to have several potential-induced nonconductance (closed) states. The transitions of ion channels between the states are only through one conductance state. The transition of ST-channels from closed to open state is induced by membrane depolarization. The amplitude current after a series of voltage pulses is a function of pulse number, and is effectively independent of the time interval between the neighbouring pulses. Therefore, a membrane which contains a pool of ion channels "remembers" its previous existence. A simple model can be used to explain this phenomenon. |
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