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Ionic channel formation in a living cell membrane

Abstract

THERE have been several attempts to study cell membrane formation by the use of protoplasmic droplets extruded from plant cells into appropriate solutions1. The formation of a membrane on the surface of such droplets has been confirmed by optical, electrical and other measurements2–4, but some properties of these unnatural membranes have been questioned5. I report here experiments which indicate the possibility of observing membrane formation in a living cell. The method was based on the sealing effect6–8 which isolates a microelectrode tip from protoplasm into which it has been inserted.

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References

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KRAWCZYK, S. Ionic channel formation in a living cell membrane. Nature 273, 56–57 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/273056a0

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