Volume-dependent glutamate permeation depends on transmembrane ionic strength and extracellular Cl-

Many mammalian cells regulate their volume by the osmotic movement of water directed by anion and cation flux. Ubiquitous volume-dependent anion currents permit cells to recover volume after swelling in response to a hypotonic environment. This study addressed competition between glutamate (Glu) and Cl(-) permeation in volume-activated anion currents in order to provide insight into the ionic requirements for volume regulation, volume-dependent anion channel activity and to the architecture of the channel pore. The effect of changing the intracellular molar fraction (MF) of Glu and Cl(-) on conductance and relative anion permeability was evaluated as a function of the extracellular permeant anion and/or the ionic strength. Relative permeability of Glu to Cl(-) was determined by measuring reversal potentials under defined ionic conditions. Under conditions with high (150 m M) or low (50 m M) ionic strength solutions on both sides of the membrane, Cl(-) was always more permeable than Glu. When a transmembrane ionic strength gradient (150 m M extracellular: 50 m M intracellular) was set to drive water into the cell, and in the presence of extracellular Cl(-), Glu became up to 16-fold more permeable than Cl(-). Replacement of extracellular Cl(-) with Glu abolished this effect. These results indicate that it is possible for Glu to move into the extracellular environment during volume-regulatory events and they support the emerging role of glutamate as a modulator of anion channel activity.