Title

Stretch activation of a toad smooth muscle K+ channel may be mediated by fatty acids

Academic Program

Not applicable

UMMS Affiliation

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Physiology

Publication Date

1995-04-15

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

1. using standard single channel patch clamp techniques we studied the stretch sensitivity of a 20 pS K(+)-selective channel which is activated by fatty acids and found in freshly dissociated smooth muscle cells from the stomach of the toad Bufo marinus. 2. A pulse of suction applied to the back of the patch pipette in order to stretch the membrane resulted in activation of this K+ channel. A train of suction pulses resulted in a gradually increased level of channel activity during each successive pulse, as well as an increase in baseline activity between pulses. This pattern contrasts markedly with many other stretch-activated channels whose activation is limited to the duration of the suction pulse. 3. Application of fatty acids augmented the response to stretch. In contrast, application of 10 microM defatted albumin, which removes fatty acids from membranes, rapidly and reversibly decreased the response to stretch. 4. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that fatty acids which are generated by mechanical stimuli, perhaps by mechanically activated phospholipases, are the intermediaries in activation of certain mechanically sensitive ion channels.

DOI of Published Version

10.1113/jphysiol.1995.sp020668

Source

J Physiol. 1995 Apr 15;484 ( Pt 2):331-7.

Journal/Book/Conference Title

The Journal of physiology

Related Resources

Link to article in PubMed

PubMed ID

7602529

Link to Full Text

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