scholarly journals Destruction of Sodium Conductance Inactivation in Squid Axons Perfused with Pronase

1973 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clay M. Armstrong ◽  
Francisco Bezanilla ◽  
Eduardo Rojas

We have studied the effects of the proteolytic enzyme Pronase on the membrane currents of voltage-clamped squid axons. Internal perfusion of the axons with Pronase rather selectively destroys inactivation of the Na conductance (gNa). At the level of a single channel, Pronase probably acts in an all-or-none manner: each channel inactivates normally until its inactivation gate is destroyed, and then it no longer inactivates. Pronase reduces g¯Na, possibly by destroying some of the channels, but after removal of its inactivation gate a Na channel seems no longer vulnerable to Pronase. The turn-off kinetics and the voltage dependence of the Na channel activation gates are not affected by Pronase, and it is probable that the enzyme does not affect these gates in any way. Neither the K channels nor their activation gates are affected in a specific way by Pronase. Tetrodotoxin does not protect the inactivation gates from Pronase, nor does maintained inactivation of the Na channels during exposure to Pronase. Our results suggest that the inactivation gate is a readily accessible protein attached to the inner end of each Na channel. It is shown clearly that activation and inactivation of Na channels are separable processes, and that Na channels are distinct from K channels.

1984 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Yamamoto ◽  
J Z Yeh

The kinetics of 9-aminoacridine (9-AA) block of single Na channels in neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells were studied using the gigohm seal, patch clamp technique, under the condition in which the Na current inactivation had been eliminated by treatment with N-bromoacetamide (NBA). Following NBA treatment, the current flowing through individual Na channels was manifested by square-wave open events lasting from several to tens of milliseconds. When 9-AA was applied to the cytoplasmic face of Na channels at concentrations ranging from 30 to 100 microM, it caused repetitive rapid transitions (flickering) between open and blocked states within single openings of Na channels, without affecting the amplitude of the single channel current. The histograms for the duration of blocked states and the histograms for the duration of open states could be fitted with a single-exponential function. The mean open time (tau o) became shorter as the drug concentration was increased, while the mean blocked time (tau b) was concentration independent. The association (blocking) rate constant, kappa, calculated from the slope of the curve relating the reciprocal mean open time to 9-AA concentration, showed little voltage dependence, the rate constant being on the order of 1 X 10(7) M-1s-1. The dissociation (unblocking) rate constant, l, calculated from the mean blocked time, was strongly voltage dependent, the mean rate constant being 214 s-1 at 0 mV and becoming larger as the membrane being hyperpolarized. The voltage dependence suggests that a first-order blocking site is located at least 63% of the way through the membrane field from the cytoplasmic surface. The equilibrium dissociation constant for 9-AA to block the Na channel, defined by the relation of l/kappa, was calculated to be 21 microM at 0 mV. Both tau -1o and tau -1b had a Q10 of 1.3, which suggests that binding reaction was diffusion controlled. The burst time in the presence of 9-AA, which is the sum of open times and blocked times, was longer than the lifetime of open channels in the absence of drug. All of the features of 9-AA block of single Na channels are compatible with the sequential model in which 9-AA molecules block open Na channels, and the blocked channels could not close until 9-AA molecules had left the blocking site in the channels.


1990 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
D S Krafte ◽  
A L Goldin ◽  
V J Auld ◽  
R J Dunn ◽  
N Davidson ◽  
...  

This study investigates the inactivation properties of Na channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes from two rat IIA Na channel cDNA clones differing by a single amino acid residue. Although the two cDNAs encode Na channels with substantially different activation properties (Auld, V. J., A. L. Goldin, D. S. Krafte, J. Marshall, J. M. Dunn, W. A. Catterall, H. A. Lester, N. Davidson, and R. J. Dunn. 1988. Neuron. 1:449-461), their inactivation properties resemble each other strongly but differ markedly from channels induced by poly(A+) rat brain RNA. Rat IIA currents inactivate more slowly, recover from inactivation more slowly, and display a steady-state voltage dependence that is shifted to more positive potentials. The macroscopic inactivation process for poly(A+) Na channels is defined by a single exponential time course; that for rat IIA channels displays two exponential components. At the single-channel level these differences in inactivation occur because rat IIA channels reopen several times during a depolarizing pulse; poly(A+) channels do not. Repetitive stimulation (greater than 1 Hz) produces a marked decrement in the rat IIA peak current and changes the waveform of the currents. When low molecular weight RNA is coinjected with rat IIA RNA, these inactivation properties are restored to those that characterize poly(A+) channels. Slow inactivation is similar for rat IIA and poly(A+) channels, however. The data suggest that activation and inactivation involve at least partially distinct regions of the channel protein.


1987 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
S S Garber ◽  
C Miller

Voltage-sensitive Na+ channels from rat skeletal muscle plasma membrane vesicles were inserted into planar lipid bilayers in the presence of either of the alkaloid toxins veratridine (VT) or batrachotoxin (BTX). Both of these toxins are known to cause persistent activation of Na+ channels. With BTX as the channel activator, single channels remain open nearly all the time. Channels activated with VT open and close on a time scale of 1-10 s. Increasing the VT concentration enhances the probability of channel opening, primarily by increasing the rate constant of opening. The kinetics and voltage dependence of channel block by 21-sulfo-11-alpha-hydroxysaxitoxin are identical for VT and BTX, as is the ionic selectivity sequence determined by bi-ionic reversal potential (Na+ approximately Li+ greater than K+ greater than Rb+ greater than Cs+). However, there are striking quantitative differences in open channel conduction for channels in the presence of the two activators. Under symmetrical solution conditions, the single channel conductance for Na+ is about twice as high with BTX as with VT. Furthermore, the symmetrical solution single channel conductances show a different selectivity for BTX (Na+ greater than Li+ greater than K+) than for VT (Na+ greater than K+ greater than Li+). Open channel current-voltage curves in symmetrical Na+ and Li+ are roughly linear, while those in symmetrical K+ are inwardly rectifying. Na+ currents are blocked asymmetrically by K+ with both BTX and VT, but the voltage dependence of K+ block is stronger with BTX than with VT. The results show that the alkaloid neurotoxins not only alter the gating process of the Na+ channel, but also affect the structure of the open channel. We further conclude that the rate-determining step for conduction by Na+ does not occur at the channel's "selectivity filter," where poorly permeating ions like K+ are excluded.


1996 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
L G Palmer ◽  
G Frindt

The gating kinetics of apical membrane Na channels in the rat cortical collecting tubule were assessed in cell-attached and inside-out excised patches from split-open tubules using the patch-clamp technique. In patches containing a single channel the open probability (Po) was variable, ranging from 0.05 to 0.9. The average Po was 0.5. However, the individual values were not distributed normally, but were mainly < or = 0.25 or > or = 0.75. Mean open times and mean closed times were correlated directly and inversely, respectively, with Po. In patches where a sufficient number of events could be recorded, two time constants were required to describe the open-time and closed-time distributions. In most patches in which basal Po was < 0.3 the channels could be activated by hyperpolarization of the apical membrane. In five such patches containing a single channel hyperpolarization by 40 mV increased Po by 10-fold, from 0.055 +/- 0.023 to 0.58 +/- 0.07. This change reflected an increase in the mean open time of the channels from 52 +/- 17 to 494 +/- 175 ms and a decrease in the mean closed time from 1,940 +/- 350 to 336 +/- 100 ms. These responses, however, could not be described by a simple voltage dependence of the opening and closing rates. In many cases significant delays in both the activation by hyperpolarization and deactivation by depolarization were observed. These delays ranged from several seconds to several tens of seconds. Similar effects of voltage were seen in cell-attached and excised patches, arguing against a voltage-dependent chemical modification of the channel, such as a phosphorylation. Rather, the channels appeared to switch between gating modes. These switches could be spontaneous but were strongly influenced by changes in membrane voltage. Voltage dependence of channel gating was also observed under whole-cell clamp conditions. To see if mechanical perturbations could also influence channel kinetics or gating mode, negative pressures of 10-60 mm Hg were applied to the patch pipette. In most cases (15 out of 22), this maneuver had no significant effect on channel behavior. In 6 out of 22 patches, however, there was a rapid and reversible increase in Po when the pressure was applied. In one patch, there was a reversible decrease. While no consistent effects of pressure could be documented, membrane deformation could contribute to the variation in Po under some conditions.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 349-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Matzner ◽  
M. Devor

1. We used the tested fiber method to record from single myelinated afferents axons ending in a chronic nerve injury site (neuroma) in the rat sciatic nerve or L4,5 dorsal root. Axons were chosen for study that fired spontaneously with a stable tonic or interrupted (bursty) autorhythmic firing pattern. 2. Agents that block voltage-sensitive Na+ channels [tetrodotoxin (TTX), lidocaine], voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels (Cd2+, Co2+, Ni2+, verapamil, D600, nifedipine, and fluarizine), volt-age-sensitive K+ channels [tetraethylammonium (TEA), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)], and Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels (gK+Ca2+;quinidine, apamine) were applied topically to the neuroma. Effects on baseline rhythmogenesis and on the duty cycle of bursting were documented. Spike pattern analysis was used to determine whether changes in firing frequency were associated with changes in impulse initiation (electrogenesis), or resulted from (partial) block of impulse propagation downstream from the site of electrogenesis. Effects of veratridine were also noted. 3. Na+ channel blockers consistently quenched neuroma firing, and they did so by suppressing the process of impulse initiation. Only rarely was propagation block the dominant process. In bursty fibers the duration of on-periods shortened as the duration of off-periods lengthened, without a significant change in the baseline interspike interval (ISI). Veratridine accelerated firing, also via the impulse generating process. 4. Ca2+ channel blockers had essentially no effect on baseline firing rate (i.e., ISI). 5. Ca2+ channel blockers, as well as blockers of gK+Ca2+, had substantial, but inconsistent effects on burst pattern. It is not clear whether this reflects variability in the experimental conditions, or heterogeneity among the fibers sampled. 6. Blockade of K+ channels failed to evoke rhythmogenesis in acutely cut axons as it does in chronically injured axons, even in the presence of veratridine. This is consistent with other evidence that ectopic neuroma firing depends on postinjury remodeling of membrane electrical properties. 7. The data indicate that, in chronically injured axons, the inward currents that underly electrogenicity, enable ectopic discharge, and, together with outward K+ currents, set the fundamental firing rhythm (ISI), operate primarily with the use of voltage-sensitive Na+ rather than Ca2+ channels. 8. The on-off duty cycle in bursty fibers was affected by Na+ channel ligands and also, although less so, and less consistently by, Ca2+ channel ligands. This indicates that both may play a role in the slow modulations of membrane potential that presumably underly interrupted autorhythmicity.


1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 2562-2565 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Brown ◽  
P. C. Schwindt ◽  
W. E. Crill

1. These experiments tested the hypothesis that the differing voltage dependence of the transient (INa) and persistent (INaP) Na+ currents in neocortical neurons results from the state of inactivation of one type of Na+ channel rather than from the existence of different types of Na+ channels. This question was examined in acutely isolated pyramidal neurons from the sensorimotor cortex of rats by using papain to remove inactivation from INa and comparing the resulting activation curve with that of INaP. 2. In control cells, INaP activated at more negative potentials than INa. Inclusion of papain in the recording pipette removed inactivation from INa and caused the INa activation curve to be shifted leftward to the position of the curve for INaP measured in control cells. Papain greatly increased both INa amplitude and the time to reach peak INa during smaller depolarizations, whereas the difference between control and test currents was reduced during large depolarizations. 3. We conclude that differences in the voltage dependence of INa and INaP activation does not provide sufficient evidence that these currents flow through separate sets of Na+ channels. Instead, our results are consistent with the idea that INaP largely arises from a fraction of the transient Na+ channels that intermittently lose their inactivation.


1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (1) ◽  
pp. H79-H84 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Alpert ◽  
H. A. Fozzard ◽  
D. A. Hanck ◽  
J. C. Makielski

Lidocaine and its permanently charged analogue QX-314 block sodium current (INa) in nerve, and by this mechanism, lidocaine produces local anesthesia. When administered clinically, lidocaine prevents cardiac arrhythmias. Nerve and skeletal muscle are much more sensitive to local anesthetics when the drugs are applied inside the cell, indicating that the binding site for local anesthetics is located on the inside of those Na channels. Using a large suction pipette for voltage clamp and internal perfusion of single cardiac Purkinje cells, we demonstrate that a charged lidocaine analogue blocks INa not only when applied from the inside but also from the outside, unlike noncardiac tissue. This functional difference in heart predicts that a second local anesthetic binding site exists outside or near the outside of cardiac Na channels and emphasizes that the cardiac Na channel is different from that in nerve.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (1) ◽  
pp. C138-C147 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Fisher ◽  
F. G. Grillo ◽  
S. Sariban-Sohraby

Brefeldin A (BFA) is used to probe trafficking of proteins through the central vacuolar system (CVS) in a variety of cells. Transepithelial Na+ transport by high-resistance epithelia, such as A6 cultured cells, is inhibited by BFA. Apical Na+ channels, as well as basolateral pumps and K+ channels, are complex proteins that probably traverse the CVS for routing to the plasma membrane. BFA (5 micrograms/ml) decreases transepithelial Na+ current near zero and increases resistance reversibly after 4 h. Longer exposures are toxic. When tissues were treated for 20 h with 0.2 microgram/ml BFA, Na+ transport also was reversibly inhibited. Using noise analysis, we found that BFA drastically reduced apical Na+ channel density. The increase in single channel current was consistent with cell hyperpolarization. After apical permeabilization with nystatin, changes in transepithelial current reflect changes in basolateral membrane transport. Transport at this membrane was inhibited by ouabain and cycloheximide, but not by BFA. After BFA, aldosterone was ineffective, suggesting that an intact CVS is required for stimulation by this hormone. Thus BFA inhibition of Na+ transport is localized at the apical membrane. Implications for channel turnover as a mechanism for regulating the Na+ transport rate are discussed.


1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (1) ◽  
pp. F116-F126 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. N. Ling ◽  
C. L. Webster ◽  
D. C. Eaton

Patch clamp technology was utilized to study the effects of apical phospholipase A2 (PLA2) metabolites on “maxi K” channels in the principal cell apical membrane of rabbit cortical collecting tubule (CCT) primary cultures (B. N. Ling, C. F. Hinton, and D. C. Eaton. Kidney Int. 40: 441–452, 1991). At resting membrane potential, this channel is quiescent in the cell-attached configuration. Apical application of the PLA2 agonist melittin (1 microgram/ml) for 10 min increased single-channel open probability (Po) from 0.0004 +/- 0.0010 to 0.11 +/- 0.05. Similarly, apical exposure to 50 microM arachidonic acid (AA) or 0.5 microM prostaglandin (PG) E2, but not 0.5 microM PGF2 alpha, also increased channel activity. Conversely, 10 microM of the PLA2 antagonist quinacrine applied apically decreased Po. Removal of apical bath Ca2+ did not prevent melittin-, AA-, or PGE2-induced channel activation. We then examined the role of maxi K channels and eicosanoids in principal cell volume regulation. Within seconds of reducing basolateral bath tonicity (285 to 214 mosmol/kgH2O), NPo (i.e., no. of channels x Po) initially increased approximately 200%, followed by a delayed but prolonged activation phase that was attenuated by removal of apical bath Ca2+. Pretreatment with 10 microM quinacrine, 100 microM indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), or 0.25 microM thapsigargin (to deplete intracellular Ca2+ stores) abolished the initial phase of swelling-induced channel activation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (4) ◽  
pp. C668-C674 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Wilkinson ◽  
D. C. Dawson

Current fluctuation analysis was used to investigate the properties of apical Na+ channels during muscarinic inhibition of active Na+ absorption. A reversible Na+ channel blocker, 6-chloro-3,5-diaminopyrazine-2-carboxamide (CDPC), was used to induce fluctuations in the short-circuit current (I(sc)). Power density spectra of the CDPC-induced fluctuations exhibited a clearly discernible Lorentzian component, characterized by a corner frequency that was linearly related to CDPC concentration between 20 and 100 microM. The on (k'on) and off (k(off)) rate coefficients for the CDPC blocking reaction were k'on = 11.1 +/- 0.8 rad.s-1.microM-1 and k(off) = 744 +/- 53 rad/s, and the microscopic inhibition constant was 67 microM (n = 11). CDPC blocking kinetics were not significantly different after inhibition of Isc by 5 microM serosal carbachol. Single-channel Na+ current (iNa) and the density of open and blocked Na+ channels (N(ob)) were estimated from the fluctuations induced by 40 microM CDPC. Under control conditions, iNa was 0.43 +/- 0.05 pA and N(ob) was 251 +/- 42 X 10(6)/cm2 (n = 10). After exposure to serosal carbachol (2-10 microM) for 60 min, Na+ current and N(ob) were reduced by approximately 50%, but iNa was not changed significantly. These results indicate that muscarinic inhibition of electrogenic Na+ absorption was associated with a reduction in the number of open Na+ channels in the apical membrane. They also suggest that this downregulation of transport involved a coordinated decrease in both apical and basolateral membrane conductances.


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