Biomaterial Database

Calcium-dependent inactivation of the calcium current activated upon hyperpolarization of Paramecium tetraurelia. 1992

R R Preston, and Y Saimi, and C Kung

Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706.

The Ca2+ current activated upon hyperpolarization of Paramecium tetraurelia decays over a period of 150-200 ms during sustained steps under voltage clamp. At membrane potentials between -70 and approximately -100 mV, the time course of this inactivation is described by a single exponential function. Steps negative to approximately -100 mV elicit currents that decay biexponentially, however. Three lines of evidence suggest that this current's inactivation is a function of intracellular Ca2+ concentration rather than membrane potential: (a) Comparing currents with similar amplitudes but elicited at widely differing membrane potentials suggests that their time course of decay is a sole function of inward current magnitude. (b) The extent of current inactivation is correlated with the amount of Ca2+ entering the cell during hyperpolarization. (c) The onset and time course of recovery from inactivation can be hastened significantly by injecting cells with EGTA. We suggest that the decay of this current during hyperpolarization involves a Ca(2+)-dependent pathway.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008564	Membrane Potentials	The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization).	Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D004533	Egtazic Acid	A chelating agent relatively more specific for calcium and less toxic than EDETIC ACID.	EGTA,Ethylene Glycol Tetraacetic Acid,EGATA,Egtazic Acid Disodium Salt,Egtazic Acid Potassium Salt,Egtazic Acid Sodium Salt,Ethylene Glycol Bis(2-aminoethyl ether)tetraacetic Acid,Ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrile)tetraacetic Acid,GEDTA,Glycoletherdiamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic Acid,Magnesium-EGTA,Tetrasodium EGTA,Acid, Egtazic,EGTA, Tetrasodium,Magnesium EGTA
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001692	Biological Transport	The movement of materials (including biochemical substances and drugs) through a biological system at the cellular level. The transport can be across cell membranes and epithelial layers. It also can occur within intracellular compartments and extracellular compartments.	Transport, Biological,Biologic Transport,Transport, Biologic
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D015220	Calcium Channels	Voltage-dependent cell membrane glycoproteins selectively permeable to calcium ions. They are categorized as L-, T-, N-, P-, Q-, and R-types based on the activation and inactivation kinetics, ion specificity, and sensitivity to drugs and toxins. The L- and T-types are present throughout the cardiovascular and central nervous systems and the N-, P-, Q-, & R-types are located in neuronal tissue.	Ion Channels, Calcium,Receptors, Calcium Channel Blocker,Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channel,Calcium Channel,Calcium Channel Antagonist Receptor,Calcium Channel Antagonist Receptors,Calcium Channel Blocker Receptor,Calcium Channel Blocker Receptors,Ion Channel, Calcium,Receptors, Calcium Channel Antagonist,VDCC,Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels,Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent,Calcium Channels, Voltage-Dependent,Calcium Ion Channel,Calcium Ion Channels,Channel, Voltage-Dependent Calcium,Channels, Voltage-Dependent Calcium,Voltage Dependent Calcium Channel,Voltage Dependent Calcium Channels
D015640	Ion Channel Gating	The opening and closing of ion channels due to a stimulus. The stimulus can be a change in membrane potential (voltage-gated), drugs or chemical transmitters (ligand-gated), or a mechanical deformation. Gating is thought to involve conformational changes of the ion channel which alters selective permeability.	Gating, Ion Channel,Gatings, Ion Channel,Ion Channel Gatings
D016805	Paramecium tetraurelia	A species of ciliate protozoa. It is used in biomedical research.	Paramecium tetraurelias,tetraurelias, Paramecium