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Free keywords:
Patch-voltage clamp; K+ channel; Channel cluster; (Frog peritoneum)
Abstract:
Application of the patch-clamp technique to the apical membrane of amphibian peritoneum revealed a K+ permeability governed by voltage-dependent, K+-permeable channels (PK/PNa = 3.5) that are reversibly blocked by 20 mmol/l internally applied tetraethylammonium. The channels show discrete and multiple conductance levels with elementary conductance of about 22 pS (in 120 mmol/l KCl solution on both sides of the membrane). The channels' behaviour is consistent with an aggregation of channel-forming subunits into clusters with cooperative gating mechanism.