Blocking of the squid axon potassium channel by external caesium ions. 1978

W J Adelman, and R J French

1. The blocking by external Cs of inward tail currents though the K channel of the squid giant axon, as seen by the effect of Cs on the 'instantaneous' I-V curve is described. 2. Block onset is complete within 50--100 musec of a step in voltage. The block produces a negative slope region in the inward current quadrants of the I-V plots. 3. The experiments were performed in the presence of external concentrations of 240 mM-K and 0-200 mM-Cs, with the external ionic strength maintained by substituting Tris or Na for the Cs. Essentially the same results were obtained with either Tris or Na as the substitute ion. 4. The concentration of Cs required to block 50% of the K channels at zero transmembrane voltage, in intact axons, was estimated to be approximately 1 M. 5. The slope of the dose-response curve is steeper than expected for a blocking reaction with 1:1 stoichiometry when membrane voltage is in the neighbourhood of 100 mV. 6. With Cs concentrations greater than or approximately 50 mM, the voltage dependence of the block is too steep to be accounted for by the binding of a single Cs ion per channel within the membrane electric field. 7. In perfused axons, the block occurred at less negative internal voltage when internal K concentration was reduced. 8. These observations are qualitatively consistent with a multisite channel showing single file properties.

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
D011188 Potassium An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D002586 Cesium A member of the alkali metals. It has an atomic symbol Cs, atomic number 55, and atomic weight 132.91. Cesium has many industrial applications, including the construction of atomic clocks based on its atomic vibrational frequency. Caesium,Caesium-133,Cesium-133,Caesium 133,Cesium 133
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004553 Electric Conductivity The ability of a substrate to allow the passage of ELECTRONS. Electrical Conductivity,Conductivity, Electric,Conductivity, Electrical
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
D001369 Axons Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body. Axon
D049832 Decapodiformes A superorder of CEPHALOPODS comprised of squid, cuttlefish, and their relatives. Their distinguishing feature is the modification of their fourth pair of arms into tentacles, resulting in 10 limbs. Cuttlefish,Illex,Sepiidae,Squid,Todarodes,Cuttlefishs,Decapodiforme,Illices,Squids,Todarode
D066298 In Vitro Techniques Methods to study reactions or processes taking place in an artificial environment outside the living organism. In Vitro Test,In Vitro Testing,In Vitro Tests,In Vitro as Topic,In Vitro,In Vitro Technique,In Vitro Testings,Technique, In Vitro,Techniques, In Vitro,Test, In Vitro,Testing, In Vitro,Testings, In Vitro,Tests, In Vitro,Vitro Testing, In

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