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Potential dependence of the admittance ofChara plasmalemma

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Summary

A computer-controlled apparatus is described, which combines the two powerful methods of voltage-clamping and admittance measurement. The 5-Hz admittance ofChara plasmalemma is obtained for transmembrane PD from −400 mV to 0. DC conductance is also measured by the bipolar staircase method. Both the DC and 5-Hz conductances at steady state display a central maximum at ≈−250 mV. This feature is attributed to the conductance/voltage characteristics of the H+ pump. The steady-state capacitance does not show any trend throughout the potential interval.

At the time of the delay, before excitation commences, the 5-Hz conductance is smaller than after excitation.

At the time of excitation the 5-Hz conductance echoes the time-course of the ionic current, while the capacitance undergoes a sharp decrease followed by an increase. A possible explanation of the capacitance behavior is attempted involving transport number effects and reactances associated with the Hodgkin-Huxley gating mechanism.

At punchthrough the membrane becomes inductive.

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  1. Botany School, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EA, Cambridge, England

    M. J. Beilby & B. N. Beilby

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  1. M. J. Beilby
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  2. B. N. Beilby
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Beilby, M.J., Beilby, B.N. Potential dependence of the admittance ofChara plasmalemma. J. Membrain Biol. 74, 229–245 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02332126

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02332126

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