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Gating of the voltage-dependent chloride channel CIC-0 by the permeant anion

Nature volume 373, pages 527–531 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

CHLORIDE channels of the C1C family are important for the control of membrane excitability1-3, cell volume regulation4–5, and possibly transepithelial transport6,7. Although lacking the typical voltage-sensor found in cation channels8–10, gating of C1C channels is clearly voltage-dependent. For the prototype Torpedo channel CIC-0 (refs 11–15) we now show that channel opening is strongly facilitated by external chloride. Other less permeable anions can substitute for chloride with less efficiency. CIC-0 conductance shows an anomalous mole fraction behaviour with C1~/NO3~ mixtures, suggesting a multi-ion pore. Gating shows a similar anomalous behaviour, tightly linking permeation to gating. Elimi-nating a positive charge at the cytoplasmic end of domain D12 changes kinetics, concentration dependence and halide selectivity of gating, and alters pore properties such as ion selectivity, single-channel conductance and rectification. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that in these channels voltage-dependent gating is conferred by the permeating ion itself, acting as the gating charge.

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Author notes

  1. Annett Rehfeldt: Deceased.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), Hamburg University, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Michael Pusch, Uwe Ludewig, Annett Rehfeldt & Thomas J. Jentsch

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  1. Michael Pusch
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  2. Uwe Ludewig
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  3. Annett Rehfeldt
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  4. Thomas J. Jentsch
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Pusch, M., Ludewig, U., Rehfeldt, A. et al. Gating of the voltage-dependent chloride channel CIC-0 by the permeant anion. Nature 373, 527–531 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/373527a0

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