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Voltage-dependent calcium channels from brain incorporated into planar lipid bilayers

Nature volume 308, pages 77–80 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

Many important physiological processes, including neurotransmitter release and muscle contraction1–3, are regulated by the concentration of Ca2+ ions in the cell. Levels of cytoplasmic Ca2+ can be elevated by the entry of Ca2+ ions through voltage-dependent channels which are selective for Ca2+, Ba2+ and Sr2+ ions4–14. We have measured currents through single, voltage-dependent calcium channels from rat brain that have been incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. Channel gating was voltage-dependent: membrane depolarization increased the channel open times and decreased the closed times. The channels were selective for divalent cations over monovalent ions. The well-known calcium channel blockers, lanthanum and cadmium, produced a concentration-dependent reduction of the apparent single-channel conductance. Contrary to expectations14, the nature of the divalent cation carrying current through the channel affected not only the single-channel conductance, but also the channel open times, with mean open times being shortest for barium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA

    Mark T. Nelson & Bruce K. Krueger

  2. Department of Biophysics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA

    Robert J. French

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  1. Mark T. Nelson
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  2. Robert J. French
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  3. Bruce K. Krueger
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Nelson, M., French, R. & Krueger, B. Voltage-dependent calcium channels from brain incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. Nature 308, 77–80 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/308077a0

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