Discrete localized fluorescence transients due to openings of a single plasma membrane Ca2+ permeable cation channel were recorded using wide-field digital imaging microscopy with fluo-3 as the Ca2+ indicator. These transients were obtained while simultaneously recording the unitary channel currents using the whole-cell current-recording configuration of the patch-clamp technique. This cation channel in smooth muscle cells is opened by caffeine (Guerrero, A., F.S. Fay, and J.J. Singer. 1994. J. Gen. Physiol. 104:375–394). The localized fluorescence transients appeared to occur at random locations on the cell membrane, with the duration of the rising phase matching the duration of the channel opening. Moreover, these transients were only observed in the presence of sufficient extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that they are due to Ca2+ influx from the bathing solution. The fluorescence transient is characterized by an initial fast rising phase when the channel opens, followed by a slower rising phase during prolonged openings. When the channel closes there is an immediate fast falling phase followed by a slower falling phase. Computer simulations of the underlying events were used to interpret the time course of the transients. The rapid phases are mainly due to the establishment or removal of Ca2+ and Ca2+-bound fluo-3 gradients near the channel when the channel opens or closes, while the slow phases are due to the diffusion of Ca2+ and Ca2+-bound fluo-3 into the cytoplasm. Transients due to short channel openings have a “Ca2+ spark-like” appearance, suggesting that the rising and early falling components of sparks (due to openings of ryanodine receptors) reflect the fast phases of the fluorescence change. The results presented here suggest methods to determine the relationship between the fluorescence transient and the underlying Ca2+ current, to study intracellular localized Ca2+ handling as might occur from single Ca2+ channel openings, and to localize Ca2+ permeable ion channels on the plasma membrane.
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1 October 1999
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September 27 1999
Imaging Ca2+ Entering the Cytoplasm through a Single Opening of a Plasma Membrane Cation Channel
Hui Zou,
Hui Zou
aFrom the Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
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Lawrence M. Lifshitz,
Lawrence M. Lifshitz
aFrom the Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
bFrom the Biomedical Imaging Group, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
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Richard A. Tuft,
Richard A. Tuft
aFrom the Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
bFrom the Biomedical Imaging Group, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
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Kevin E. Fogarty,
Kevin E. Fogarty
aFrom the Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
bFrom the Biomedical Imaging Group, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
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Joshua J. Singer
Joshua J. Singer
aFrom the Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
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Hui Zou
aFrom the Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
Lawrence M. Lifshitz
aFrom the Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
bFrom the Biomedical Imaging Group, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
Richard A. Tuft
aFrom the Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
bFrom the Biomedical Imaging Group, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
Kevin E. Fogarty
aFrom the Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
bFrom the Biomedical Imaging Group, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
Joshua J. Singer
aFrom the Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
1used in this paper: SCCaFT, single channel Ca2+ fluorescence transient
Portions of this work were previously published in abstract form (Zou, H., K.E. Fogarty, R.A. Tuft, and J.J. Singer. 1998. J. Gen. Physiol. 111:12a; and Zou, H., L.M. Lifshitz, R.A. Tuft, K.E. Fogarty, and J.J. Singer. 1999. Biophys. J. 76:A465).
Received:
April 26 1999
Revision Requested:
July 28 1999
Accepted:
August 10 1999
Online ISSN: 1540-7748
Print ISSN: 0022-1295
© 1999 The Rockefeller University Press
1999
The Rockefeller University Press
J Gen Physiol (1999) 114 (4): 575–588.
Article history
Received:
April 26 1999
Revision Requested:
July 28 1999
Accepted:
August 10 1999
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Citation
Hui Zou, Lawrence M. Lifshitz, Richard A. Tuft, Kevin E. Fogarty, Joshua J. Singer; Imaging Ca2+ Entering the Cytoplasm through a Single Opening of a Plasma Membrane Cation Channel. J Gen Physiol 1 October 1999; 114 (4): 575–588. doi: https://doi.org/10.1085/jgp.114.4.575
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