Ion permeation through single channels activated by acetylcholine in denervated toad sartorius skeletal muscle fibers: effects of alkali cations

M2 pore mutations convert the glycine receptor channel from being anion- to cation-selective

Three mutations in the M2 transmembrane domains of the chloride-conducting alpha1 homomeric glycine receptor (P250Delta, A251E, and T265V), which normally mediate fast inhibitory neurotransmission, produced a cation-selective channel with P(Cl)/P(Na), = 0.27 (wild-type P(Cl)/P(Na) = 25), a permeability sequence P(Cs) > P(K) > P(Na) > P(Li), an impermeability to Ca(2+), and a reduced glycine sensitivity. Outside-out patch measurements indicated reversed and accentuated rectification with extremely low mean single channel conductances of 3 pS (inward current) and 11 pS (outward current). The three inverse mutations, to those analyzed in this study, have previously been shown to make the alpha7 acetylcholine receptor channel anion-selective, indicating a common location for determinants of charge selectivity of inhibitory and excitatory ligand-gated ion channels.

Anion permeation in GABA- and glycine-gated channels of mammalian cultured hippocampal neurons

Single-channel currents through GABA- and glycine-activated chloride channels of post-natal tissue-cultured hippocampal neurons were measured to determine their anion selectivity and their concentration dependence of permeation. Current-voltage relations for both agonists displayed rectification with single-channel conductance increasing at positive potentials. Permeabilities determined from reversal potentials were maximal for anions with a diameter of about 4 A. Larger diameter anions had lower permeabilities, consistent with an approximate pore diameter of 6 A for both agonist-activated channels. The permeability for anions of similar size was greatest for those ions with a more symmetrical charge distribution (e.g. NO3- > Bicarbonate-). The permeability sequence was SCN- > NO3- > I- > Br- > Cl- > Formate- > Acetate- > Bicarbonate- > Gluconate- > F- > Phosphate-, whereas the conductance sequence for anion efflux was Cl- > Br- > NO3- > I- > SCN- > Formate- > Acetate- > Bicarbonate- > Gluconate- > F- > Phosphate-. These results suggest that the ions interact with sites within the channel, with hydration forces contributing an important component to the barrier for ion entry into the channel. The spherically symmetrical halides displayed an exponential relation between relative permeability and hydration energy. Concentration dependence of conductance for Cl- channels in symmetrical Cl- solutions with agonist in the pipette showed an increase at positive potentials and a decrease at negative potentials. GABA- and glycine-activated channels also exhibited anomalous mole-fraction effects in a mixture of Cl- and SCN-. These results suggest that both agonist-activated channels act as multi-ion pathways and have similar permeation characteristics.

Threonine in the selectivity filter of the acetylcholine receptor channel

The acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is a cation selective channel whose biophysical properties as well as its molecular composition are fairly well characterized. Previous studies on the rat muscle alpha-subunit indicate that a threonine residue located near the cytoplasmic side of the M2 segment is a determinant of ion flow. We have studied the role of this threonine in ionic selectivity by measuring conductance sequences for monovalent alkali cations and bionic reversal potentials of the wild type (alpha beta gamma delta channel) and two mutant channels in which this threonine was replaced by either valine (alpha T264V) or glycine (alpha T264G). For the wild type channel we found the selectivity sequence Rb greater than Cs greater than K greater than Na. The alpha T264V mutant channel had the sequence Rb greater than K greater than Cs greater than Na. The alpha T264G mutant channel on the other hand had the same selectivity sequence as the wild type, but larger permeability ratios Px/PNa for the larger cations. Conductance concentration curves indicate that the effect of both mutations is to change both the maximum conductance as well as the apparent binding constant of the ions to the channel. A difference in Mg2+ sensitivity between wild-type and mutant channels, which is a consequence of the differences in ion binding, was also found. The present results suggest that alpha T264 form part of the selectivity filter of the AChR channel were large ions are selected according to their dehydrated size.

Ion channels and postsynaptic potentials

Neurotransmitters open transmembrane ion channels in target membranes. At the motor endplate, the open time of channels activated by acetylcholine determines the time course of the endplate current. Endplate channels are selective for cations and their conductance and open times are influenced by the nature of the permeating cation. Similar effects have been seen at anion-selective inhibitory synapses. Some 'blocking' drugs that depress postsynaptic responses to neurotransmitters produce effects not consistent with a simple model in which they block open channels. Channels activated by neurotransmitters can show subconductance states that may reflect the fundamental mode of operation of a variety of ion channels.

Ion permeation through single ACh-activated channels in denervated adult toad sartorius skeletal muscle fibres: effect of temperature

The gigaohm seal technique was used to study the effects of temperature on ion permeation through acetylcholine-activated channels. This was done in cell-attached patches of the extrajunctional membrane of chronically-denervated, enzyme-treated cells from sartorius muscle of the toad Bufo marinus. The predominant extracellular cation in the pipette solution was Na+. Single channel current-voltage curves were measured at different temperatures and electrodiffusion and three-site-four-barrier rate theory models were used to characterize ion permeation through the channels and determine the effects of temperature on permeation parameters. The fitting of the experimental data to these models suggested the presence of at least three and probably more ion-selective sites within the channel. The most frequently occurring channel type (greater than 95% of channel openings) had a chord conductance of 25 pS at 11 degrees C and -70 mV and was classified as 'extrajunctional'. The single channel conductance of this channel had a low temperature-dependence (Q10 approximately equal to 1.3). The apparent activation enthalpy, Ea, for the conductance between 11 degrees C and 20 degrees C, did not appear to be significantly voltage-sensitive and had a value of about 17 +/- 2 kJ . mol-1 at a voltage of -70 mV. The Arrhenius plot of conductance appeared linear between 11 and 20 degrees C at all potentials examined. The data was consistent with a break in the slope of the Arrhenius plot at temperatures between 5 and 11 degrees C at all potentials examined, suggesting a possible phase transition of the membrane lipids. In contrast to the relative permeability, which was not very temperature sensitive, the relative binding constant was significantly affected by temperature. The relative Na/K binding constant sequence was: K5 degrees C greater than K20 degrees C greater than K15 degrees C much greater than K11 degrees C. In addition, the decrease in conductance observed at the most depolarized potentials was accentuated as the temperature was increased, suggesting a rate-limiting access step for ions from the intracellular solution into the channel.

A simple technique for transferring excised patches of membrane to different solutions for single channel measurements

A technical problem associated with the patch clamp technique has been the changing of solutions bathing the membrane patch. The simple technique described here solves this problem by means of a movable polythene sleeve placed on the shaft of the patch clamp pipette. The sleeve is initially placed so that the tip of the pipette is exposed. A gigaohm seal is formed using standard techniques. The patch is then excised and the sleeve is slipped down a few mm past the end of the tip of the pipette. When the pipette and sleeve is now removed from the solution, a small drop of solution covering the membrane patch is held in place at the end of the sleeve by surface tension. The pipette is then easily transferred to a different solution without passing the membrane patch through the air-water interface. The sleeve is then simply pulled back up the pipette shaft to expose the membrane patch to the new solution.