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NMDA Receptors as Voltage Sensors
Roustem Khazipov1,2,3
1Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology (INMED), INSERM U-901, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, BP13, 13273, Marseille Cedex 09, France. roustem.khazipov@inserm.fr.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|October 8, 2017
Summary
Conventional methods for measuring cell membrane potential cause artifacts. Cell-attached recordings of NMDA receptor channels offer a noninvasive alternative, accurately measuring neuronal membrane potential without introducing leak conductance issues.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cellular Electrophysiology
Background:
- Cell membrane potential is crucial for cell function.
- Conventional measurement techniques (sharp electrode, whole-cell patch-clamp) introduce artifacts like leak conductance.
- Accurate membrane potential measurement is vital for understanding neuronal activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a noninvasive method for measuring neuronal membrane potential.
- To overcome limitations of traditional electrophysiological techniques.
- To describe the procedure for using NMDA receptor channel recordings.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing cell-attached recordings of NMDA receptor channels.
- Performing electrophysiological measurements on neurons.
- Analyzing currents through NMDA receptor channels.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a noninvasive approach to measure neuronal membrane potential.
- Successfully avoided artifacts associated with leak conductance.
- Provided a detailed procedure for the novel measurement technique.
Conclusions:
- Cell-attached NMDA receptor channel recordings provide an accurate method for measuring true membrane potential.
- This technique offers a significant advancement over conventional methods.
- The described procedure enables reliable noninvasive membrane potential assessment.
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