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A large conductance ion channel in the nuclear envelope of a higher plant cell
Author(s) -
Matzke A.J.M.,
Behensky C.,
Weiger T.,
Matzke M.A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(92)80290-w
Subject(s) - conductance , ion channel , biophysics , endosperm , envelope (radar) , patch clamp , plant cell , ion , channel (broadcasting) , chemistry , biology , physics , biochemistry , telecommunications , receptor , radar , organic chemistry , computer science , gene , condensed matter physics
To detect and characterize ion channel activity in the nuclear envelope of a higher plant cell, we performed patch clamp experiments on nuclei isolated from coconut endosperm cells and on giant liposomes containing nuclear envelope fragments prepared from the same cells. An ion channel exhibiting a number of conductance substates, with a maximum of ca. 1,000 pS, was observed. Above an applied potential of ± 100 mV, the behavior of the channel was similar in isolated nuclei and liposomes, indicating that both patch clamp modes were detecting the same channel. That such a channel has now been identified in members of both the animal and plant kingdoms reinforces the notion that the nuclear pores are not always open to ions.