Inactivation and recovery of the Vibrio MscS-like channel. (A) Patch response to the pulse-step-pulse protocol with a subthreshold step amplitude. Saturating pulses before and after the step reveal the initial and remaining active population. (B) A similar experiment with activation of nearly the entire population during the step. (C) The recovery experiment. Fitting of the tips of the test pulse responses reveals τ recovery of 1.5 ± 0.2 (n = 3) s. (D) Dependence of the noninactivated fraction of MscS-like channels on the amplitude of intermediate pressure step illustrates that inactivation is tension driven.