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Ohmic conductance through the inwardly rectifying K channel and blocking by internal Mg2+

Nature volume 325, pages 156–159 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

The inwardly rectifying K channel provides the resting K conductance in a variety of cells1–4. This channel acts as a valve or diode, permitting entry of K+ under hyperpolarization, but not its exit under depolarization. This behaviour, termed inward rectification, permits long depolarizing responses which are of physiological significance for the pumping function of the heart and for fertilization of egg cells5. Little is known about the outward currents through the inwardly rectifying K channel, despite their great physiological importance, and the mechanism of inward rectification itself is unknown. We have used improved patch clamp techniques to control the intracellular media, and have recorded the outward whole-cell and single-channel currents. We report here that the channel conductance is ohmic and that the well-known inward rectification of the resting K conductance is caused by rapid closure of the channel accompanied by a voltage-dependent block by intracellular Mg2+ ions at physiological concentrations.

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Author notes

  1. Hiroko Matsuda

    Present address: 2nd Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812, Japan

  2. Akihiro Saigusa

    Present address: 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 105, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Myodaiji, Okazaki, 444, Japan

    Hiroko Matsuda, Akihiro Saigusa & Hiroshi Irisawa

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  1. Hiroko Matsuda
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  2. Akihiro Saigusa
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  3. Hiroshi Irisawa
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Matsuda, H., Saigusa, A. & Irisawa, H. Ohmic conductance through the inwardly rectifying K channel and blocking by internal Mg2+. Nature 325, 156–159 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/325156a0

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