The lowest conductance state of the alamethicin pore

High resolution experiments of the alamethicin pore demonstrate the existence of a further pore state at low conductance values. This lowest resolved conductance state is found at 19 pS in 1 M KCl at room temperature. The value differs from that of the next higher conductance state by a factor of 14--15 and is approx. 20% lower than the gramicidin A pore conductance. The lowest conductance state seems to be impermeable to Ca2+, Cl-, Tris-H+ and Hepes-, whereas the higher conductance states are not.