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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Determination of the Relative Cell Surface and Total Expression of Recombinant Ion Channels Using Flow Cytometry
Published on: September 28, 2016
The human red cell voltage-dependent cation channel. Part III: Distribution homogeneity and pH dependence
P Bennekou1, T L Barksmann, P Christophersen
1University of Copenhagen, Institute of Molecular Biology and Physiology, The August Krogh Building, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. pbennekou@aki.ku.dk
Abstract:
The homogeneity of the distribution of the non-selective voltage-dependent cation channel (the NSVDC channel) in the human erythrocyte, and the pH dependence was investigated. Activation of this channel caused a uniform cellular dehydration, which was characterized by the changes in the erythrocyte osmotic resistance profiles: after 1/2 h of activation, the osmolarity at 50% hemolysis changed from 73 mM (control) to 34 mM NaCl, corresponding to 0.48% and 0.21% NaCl respectively. Unchanging standard deviations show participation of the entire erythrocyte population, which implies an even distribution of the NSVDC channel among the cells. Inactivation of the NSVDC channel with N-ethyl-maleimide (NEM) or blocking of the Cl(-) conductance with NS1652 retarded the migration of the resistance profiles towards lower osmolarities. The NSVDC channel activation was blocked by a decrease of the intracellular -- but not the extracellular -- pH. The apparent pK(A) value for the effect was estimated to be 6.5, and the specific histidine reagent 2.4'-dibromoacetophenone (DBAB) inactivated the NSVDC channel.
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