We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Properties of a Sodium Channel (Nax) Activated by Strong Depolarization of Xenopus Oocytes.
- Authors
Vasilyev, A.; Indyk, E.; Rakowski, R. F.
- Abstract
Short (<1 sec) duration depolarization of Xenopus laevis oocytes to voltages greater than +40 mV activates a sodium-selective channel (Nax) with sodium permeability five to six times greater than the permeability of other monovalent cations examined, including K+, Rb+, Cs+, TMA+, and Choline+. The permeability to Li+ is about equal to that of Na+. This channel was present in all oocytes examined. The kinetics, voltage dependence and pharmacology of Nax distinguish it from TTX-sensitive or epithelial sodium channels. It is also different from the sodium channel of Xenopus oocytes activated by prolonged depolarization, which is more highly selective for Na+, requires prolonged depolarization to be activated, and is blocked by Li+. Intracellular Mg2+ reversibly inhibits Nax, whereas extracellular Mg2+ does not have an inhibitory effect. Intracellular Mg2+ inhibition of Nax, is voltage dependent, suggesting that Mg2+ binding occurs within the membrane field. Eosin is also a reversible voltage-dependent intracellular inhibitor of Nax, suggesting that a P-type ATPase may mediate the current. An additional cytoplasmic factor is involved in maintaining Nax since the current runs down in internally perfused oocytes and excised membrane patches. The rundown is reversible by reintroduction of the membrane patch into oocyte cytoplasm. The cytoplasmic factor is not ATP, because ATP has no effect on Nax current magnitude in either cut-open or inside-out patch preparations. Extracellular Gd3+ is also an inhibitor of Nax. Nax activation follows a sigmoid time course. Its half-maximal activation potential is +100 mV and the effective valence estimated from the steepness of conductance activation is 1.0. Nax deactivates monoexponentially upon return to the holding potential (?40 mV). The deactivation rate is voltage dependent, increasing at more negative membrane potentials.
- Publication
Journal of Membrane Biology, 2002, Vol 185, Issue 3, p237
- ISSN
0022-2631
- Publication type
Academic Journal
- DOI
10.1007/s00232-001-0126-x