Current-direction/amplitude-dependent single channel gating kinetics of mouse pannexin 1 channel: a new concept for...

The detailed single-channel gating kinetics of mouse pannexin 1 (mPanx1) remains unknown, although mPanx1 is reported to be a voltage-activated anion-selective channel. We investigated characteristics of single-channel conductances and opening and closing rates of mPanx1 using patch-clamp techniques. The unitary current of mPanx1 shows outward rectification with single-channel conductances of ~20 pS for inward currents and ~80 pS for outward currents. The channel open time for outward currents (Cl^- influx) increases linearly as the amplitude of single channel currents increases, while the open time for inward currents (Cl^- efflux) is constant irrespective of changes in the current amplitude, as if the direction and amplitude of the unitary current regulates the open time. This is supported by further observations that replacement of extracellular Cl^- with gluconate^- diminishes the inward tail current (Cl^- efflux) at a membrane potential of -100 mV due to the lowered outward current (gluconate^- influx) at membrane potential of 100 mV. These results suggest that the direction and rate of charge-carrier movement regulate the open time of mPanx1, and that the previously reported voltage-dependence of Panx1 channel gating is not directly mediated by the membrane potential but rather by the direction and amplitude of currents through the channel.