Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals
Published on: May 25, 2011
Voltage-dependent synchronization of gating of syringomycin E ion channels
O S Ostroumova1, V V Malev, Yu A Kaulin
1Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg.
Abstract:
Antifungal lipodepsipeptide syringomycin E (SRE) forms two major conductive states in lipid bilayers: "small" and "large". Large SRE channels are cluster of several small ones, demonstrating synchronous opening and closure. To get insight into the mechanism of such synchronization we investigated how transmembrane potential, membrane surface charge, and ionic strength affect the number of small SRE channels synchronously functioning in the cluster. Here, we report that the large SRE channels can be presented as 3-8 simultaneously gating small channels. The increase in the absolute value of the transmembrane potential (from 50 to 200 mV) decreases the number of synchronously gated channels in the clusters. Voltage-dependence of channel synchronization was influenced by the ionic strength of the bathing solution, but not by membrane surface charge. We propose a mechanism for the voltage-dependent cluster behavior that involves a voltage-induced reorientation of lipid dipoles associated with the channel pores.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Non-gated Ion Channels
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that include the...
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
Non-gated Ion Channels
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...

