scholarly journals Veratridine modifies open sodium channels.

1988 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Barnes ◽  
B Hille

The state dependence of Na channel modification by the alkaloid neurotoxin veratridine was investigated with single-channel and whole-cell voltage-clamp recording in neuroblastoma cells. Several tests of whole-cell Na current behavior in the presence of veratridine supported the hypothesis that Na channels must be open in order to undergo modification by the neurotoxin. Modification was use dependent and required depolarizing pulses, the voltage dependence of production of modified channels was similar to that of normal current activation, and prepulses that caused inactivation of normal current had a parallel effect on the generation of modified current. This hypothesis was then examined directly at the single-channel level. Modified channel openings were easily distinguished from normal openings by their smaller current amplitude and longer burst times. The modification event was often seen as a sudden, dramatic reduction of current through an open Na channel and produced a somewhat flickery channel event having a mean lifetime of 1.6 s at an estimated absolute membrane potential of -45 mV (23 degrees C). The modified channel had a slope conductance of 4 pS, which was 20-25% the size of the slope conductance of normal channels with the 300 mM NaCl pipette solution used. Most modified channel openings were initiated by depolarizing pulses, began within the first 10 ms of the depolarizing step, and were closely associated with the prior opening of single normal Na channels, which supports the hypothesis that modification occurs from the normal open state.

1987 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Gonoi ◽  
B Hille

Macroscopic Na currents were recorded from N18 neuroblastoma cells by the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. Inactivation of the Na currents was removed by intracellular application of proteolytic enzymes, trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, papain, or ficin, or bath application of N-bromoacetamide. Unlike what has been reported in squid giant axons and frog skeletal muscle fibers, these treatments often increased Na currents at all test pulse potentials. In addition, removal of inactivation gating shifted the midpoint of the peak Na conductance-voltage curve in the negative direction by 26 mV on average and greatly prolonged the rising phase of Na currents for small depolarizations. Polypeptide toxins from Leiurus quinquestriatus scorpion and Goniopora coral, which slow inactivation in adult nerve and muscle cells, also increase the peak Na conductance and shift the peak conductance curve in the negative direction by 7-10 mV in neuroblastoma cells. Control experiments argue against ascribing the shifts to series resistance artifacts or to spontaneous changes of the voltage dependence of Na channel kinetics. The negative shift of the peak conductance curve, the increase of peak Na currents, and the prolongation of the rise at small depolarization after removal of inactivation are consistent with gating kinetic models for neuroblastoma cell Na channels, where inactivation follows nearly irreversible activation with a relatively high, voltage-independent rate constant and Na channels open only once in a depolarization. As the same kind of experiment does not give apparent shifting of activation and prolongation of the rising phase of Na currents in adult axon and muscle membranes, the Na channels of these other membranes probably open more than once in a depolarization.


1989 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
G E Kirsch ◽  
A Skattebøl ◽  
L D Possani ◽  
A M Brown

The effects of TsIV-5, a toxin isolated from the Brazilian scorpion Tityus serrulatus, on whole-cell and single-channel Na currents were determined in N18 neuroblastoma cells. In whole-cell records at a test potential of -10 mV, external application of 500 nM TsIV-5 slowed inactivation 20-fold and increased peak current by about one-third without changing time-to-peak. Both the steady-state activation and inactivation curves were shifted to more negative potentials. Other alpha scorpion toxins produce similar effects but the single-channel mechanism is not known. TsIV-5 caused a voltage-dependent prolongation of mean single-channel open time such that at a test potential of -60 mV no change was observed, whereas at -20 mV mean open time increased about threefold and prolonged bursting was observed. Macroscopic current reconstructed from summed single-channel records showed a characteristic toxin-induced potentiation of peak current and a 20-fold slowing of the decay phase. TsIV-5 does not discriminate between tissue-specific Na channel subtypes. Prolonged open times and bursting were also observed in toxin-treated Na channels from rat ventricular myocytes, rat cortical neurons, and mouse skeletal muscle. The toxin effects are shown to be consistent with a kinetic model in which TsIV-5 selectively interferes with the ability of the channel to reach the inactivated state.


1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (5) ◽  
pp. F1086-F1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Frindt ◽  
L. G. Palmer

The whole cell patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the interactions of the amiloride-sensitive Na channel of the rat cortical collecting tubule (CCT) with adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and with methyl donors. The amiloride-sensitive whole cell current (INa) was measured in principal cells of dissected, split-open tubules from rats maintained either on a control diet or on a low-Na diet to increase endogenous aldosterone secretion. With Na-depleted animals, INa was highest immediately after rupture of the membrane patch and averaged 325 pA at a membrane potential of -60 mV. INa declined over 15 min to approximately 35% of the initial value. With 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP in the pipette, INa increased within 5 min of membrane rupture and was maintained for 15 min at levels three- to fourfold higher than the corresponding control values. With Na-replete animals, INa was undetectable (< 10 pA) without cAMP. With cAMP in the pipette, INa averaged 40 pA. In cell-attached patches on tubules from Na-replete rats exposed to cAMP, single Na channels were observed with conductive and kinetic properties similar to those from Na-depleted rats but at lower density. Inclusion of the methyl donor S-adenosyl methionine to the pipette solution did not increase INa in CCTs from Na-replete rats, either in the presence or absence of cAMP. The methylation inhibitor S-adenosyl homocysteine did not affect INa in CCT from Na-depleted animals.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (4) ◽  
pp. C998-C1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Chalfant ◽  
T. G. O'Brien ◽  
M. M. Civan

Amiloride-sensitive whole cell currents have been reported in M-1 mouse cortical collecting duct cells (Korbmacher et al., J. Gen. Physiol. 102: 761-793, 1993). We have confirmed that amiloride inhibits the whole cell currents but not necessarily the measured whole cell currents. Anomalous responses were eliminated by removing external Na+ and/or introducing paraepithelial shunts. The amiloride-sensitive whole cell currents displayed Goldman rectification. The ionic selectivity sequence of the amiloride-sensitive conductance was Li+ > Na+ >> K+. Growth of M-1 cells on permeable supports increased the amiloride-sensitive whole cell permeability, compared with cells grown on plastic. Single amiloride-sensitive channels were observed, which conformed to the highly selective low-conductance amiloride-sensitive class [Na(5)] of epithelial Na+ channels. Hypotonic pretreatment markedly slowed run-down of channel activity. The gating of the M-1 Na+ channel in excised patches was complex. Open- and closed-state dwell-time distributions from patches that display one operative channel were best described with two or more exponential terms each. We conclude that 1) study of M-1 whole cell Na+ currents is facilitated by reducing the transepithelial potential to zero, 2) these M-1 currents reflect the operation of Na(5) channels, and 3) the Na+ channels display complex kinetics, involving > or = 2 open and > or = 2 closed states.


2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 1022-1033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Nau ◽  
Sho-Ya Wang ◽  
Gary R. Strichartz ◽  
Ging Kuo Wang

Background S(-)-bupivacaine reportedly exhibits lower cardiotoxicity but similar local anesthetic potency compared with R(+)-bupivacaine. The bupivacaine binding site in human heart (hH1) Na+ channels has not been studied to date. The authors investigated the interaction of bupivacaine enantiomers with hH1 Na+ channels, assessed the contribution of putatively relevant residues to binding, and compared the intrinsic affinities to another isoform, the rat skeletal muscle (mu1) Na+ channel. Methods Human heart and mu1 Na+ channel alpha subunits were transiently expressed in HEK293t cells and investigated during whole cell voltage-clamp conditions. Using site-directed mutagenesis, the authors created point mutations at positions hH1-F1760, hH1-N1765, hH1-Y1767, and hH1-N406 by introducing the positively charged lysine (K) or the negatively charged aspartic acid (D) and studied their influence on state-dependent block by bupivacaine enantiomers. Results Inactivated hH1 Na+ channels displayed a weak stereoselectivity with a stereopotency ratio (+/-) of 1.5. In mutations hH1-F1760K and hH1-N1765K, bupivacaine affinity of inactivated channels was reduced by approximately 20- to 40-fold, in mutation hH1-N406K by approximately sevenfold, and in mutations hH1-Y1767K and hH1-Y1767D by approximately twofold to threefold. Changes in recovery of inactivated mutant channels from block paralleled those of inactivated channel affinity. Inactivated hH1 Na+ channels exhibited a slightly higher intrinsic affinity than mu1 Na+ channels. Conclusions Differences in bupivacaine stereoselectivity and intrinsic affinity between hH1 and mu1 Na+ channels are small and most likely of minor clinical relevance. Amino acid residues in positions hH1-F1760, hH1-N1765, and hH1-N406 may contribute to binding of bupivacaine enantiomers in hH1 Na+ channels, whereas the role of hH1-Y1767 remains unclear.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (4) ◽  
pp. C975-C989 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Rae ◽  
M. A. Watsky

Single-channel patch-clamp techniques as well as standard and perforated-patch whole cell voltage-clamp techniques have been applied to the study of ionic channels in the corneal endothelium of several species. These studies have revealed two major K+ currents. One is due to an anion- and temperature-stimulated channel that is blocked by Cs+ but not by most other K+ channel blockers, and the other is similar to the family of A-currents found in excitable cells. The A-current is transient after a depolarizing voltage step and is blocked by both 4-aminopyridine and quinidine. These two currents are probably responsible for setting the -50 to -60 mV resting voltage reported for these cells. A Ca(2+)-activated ATP-inhibited nonselective cation channel and a tetrodotoxin-blocked Na+ channel are possible Na+ inflow pathways, but, given their gating properties, it is not certain that either channel works under physiological conditions. A large-conductance anion channel has also been identified by single-channel patch-clamp techniques. Single corneal endothelial cells have input resistances of 5-10 G omega and have steady-state K+ currents that are approximately 10 pA at the resting voltage. Pairs or monolayers of cells are electrically coupled and dye coupled through gap junctions.


1998 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mouhamed S. Awayda ◽  
Muthangi Subramanyam

The sensitivity of αβγ rat epithelial Na+ channel (rENaC) to osmotically or mechanically induced changes of membrane tension was investigated in the Xenopus oocyte expression system, using both dual electrode voltage clamp and cell-attached patch clamp methodologies. ENaC whole-cell currents were insensitive to mechanical cell swelling caused by direct injection of 90 or 180 nl of 100-mM KCl. Similarly, ENaC whole-cell currents were insensitive to osmotic cell swelling caused by a 33% decrease of bathing solution osmolarity. The lack of an effect of cell swelling on ENaC was independent of the status of the actin cytoskeleton, as ENaC remained insensitive to osmotic and mechanical cell swelling in oocytes pretreated with cytochalasin B for 2–5 h. This apparent insensitivity of ENaC to increased cell volume and changes of membrane tension was also observed at the single channel level in membrane patches subjected to negative or positive pressures of 5 or 10 in. of water. However, and contrary to the lack of an effect of cell swelling, ENaC currents were inhibited by cell shrinking. A 45-min incubation in a 260-mosmol solution (a 25% increase of solution osmolarity) caused a decrease of ENaC currents (at −100 mV) from −3.42 ± 0.34 to −2.02 ± 0.23 μA (n = 6). This decrease of current with cell shrinking was completely blocked by pretreatment of oocytes with cytochalasin B, indicating that these changes of current are not likely related to a direct effect of cell shrinking. We conclude that αβγ rENaC is not directly mechanosensitive when expressed in a system that can produce a channel with identical properties to those found in native epithelia.


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (2) ◽  
pp. H548-H557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zeng ◽  
Glenna C. L. Bett ◽  
Frederick Sachs

Mechanoelectric transduction can initiate cardiac arrhythmias. To examine the origins of this effect at the cellular level, we made whole cell voltage-clamp recordings from acutely isolated rat ventricular myocytes under controlled strain. Longitudinal stretch elicited noninactivating inward cationic currents that increased the action potential duration. These stretch-activated currents could be blocked by 100 μM Gd3+ but not by octanol. The current-voltage relationship was nearly linear, with a reversal potential of approximately −6 mV in normal Tyrode solution. Current density varied with sarcomere length (SL) according to I (pA/pF) = 8.3 − 5.0SL (μm). Repeated attempts to record single channel currents from stretch-activated ion channels failed, in accord with the absence of such data from the literature. The inability to record single channel currents may be a result of channels being located on internal membranes such as the T tubules or, possibly, inactivation of the channels by the mechanics of patch formation.


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.


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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