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Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recordings in Brain Slices
Published on: June 15, 2016
Conventional micropipette-based patch clamp techniques.
Jonathan D Lippiat1, David C Wrighton
1Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|March 27, 2013
Summary
The patch clamp technique is the gold standard for measuring ion channel activity. This guide helps beginners design experiments and achieve key micropipette configurations for studying ion channels in mammalian cells.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The patch clamp technique is crucial for studying ion channel function.
- It allows detailed analysis of ion channel activity at the single-molecule to whole-cell level.
- This method is vital in both academic research and industrial drug screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To guide beginners in designing patch clamp experiments.
- To provide practical instructions for obtaining fundamental micropipette configurations.
- To facilitate the study of ion channels in their native cellular environment.
Main Methods:
- Detailed explanation of the patch clamp technique.
- Step-by-step instructions for cell-attached patch configuration.
- Guidance on achieving whole-cell, inside-out, and outside-out patch configurations with mammalian cells.
Main Results:
- Successful acquisition of fundamental patch clamp configurations.
- Enabling the study of ion channel behavior from single channels to whole-cell populations.
- Facilitating the investigation of ion channel function in native cellular states.
Conclusions:
- The patch clamp technique is essential for ion channel research.
- This chapter equips beginners with the foundational skills for patch clamp experiments.
- Mastering these techniques is key to advancing ion channel biophysics and drug discovery.
