The cation-selective channel from Tetrahymena cilia is permeable to both monovalent and divalent cations. The single channel conductance in mixed solutions of K+ and Ca2+ was determined by the Gibbs-Donnan ratio of K+ and Ca2+, and the binding sites of this channel were considered to be always occupied by two potassium ions or by one calcium ion under the experimental conditions: 5–90 mM K+ and 0.5–35 mM Ca2+ (Oosawa and Kasai, 1988). A two-barrier model for the channel was introduced and the values of Michaelis-Menten constants and maximum currents carried by K+ and Ca2+ were calculated using this model. Single channel current amplitudes and reversal potentials were calculated from these values. The calculated single-channel currents were compared with those obtained experimentally. The calculated reversal potentials were compared with the resting potentials of Tetrahymena measured in various concentrations of extracellular K+ and Ca2+. The method of calculation of ionic currents and reversal potentials presented here is helpful for understanding the properties of the channels permeable to both monovalent and divalent cations. © 1989, The Biophysical Society. All rights reserved.
CITATION STYLE
Oosawa, Y. (1989). Ionic currents of channels that are permeable to monovalent and divalent cations. Biophysical Journal, 56(6), 1217–1223. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3495(89)82768-7
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