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Biophysical Journal 65: 1837-1843 (1993)
© 1993 the Biophysical Society

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Fast and slow activation of voltage-dependent ion channels in radish vacuoles.

F Gambale, A M Cantu, A Carpaneto and B U Keller

Istituto di Cibernetica e Biofisica, Genova, Italy.

ABSTRACT

The molecular processes associated with voltage-dependent opening and closing (gating) of ion channels were investigated using a new preparation from plant cells, i.e., voltage and calcium-activated ion channels in radish root vacuoles. These channels display a main single channel conductance of approximately 90 pS and are characterized by long activation times lasting several hundreds of milliseconds. Here, we demonstrate that these channels have a second kinetically distinct activation mode which is characterized by even longer activation times. Different membrane potential protocols allowed to switch between the fast and the slow mode in a controlled and reversible manner. At transmembrane potentials of -100 mV, the ratio between the fast and slow activation time constant was around 1:5. Correspondingly, activation times lasting several seconds were observed in the slow mode. The molecular process controlling fast and slow activation may represent an effective modulator of voltage-dependent gating of ion channels in other plant and animal systems.




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[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Copyright © 1993 by the Biophysical Society.