The world's first wiki where authorship really matters (Nature Genetics, 2008). Due credit and reputation for authors. Imagine a global collaborative knowledge base for original thoughts. Search thousands of articles and collaborate with scientists around the globe.

wikigene or wiki gene protein drug chemical gene disease author authorship tracking collaborative publishing evolutionary knowledge reputation system wiki2.0 global collaboration genes proteins drugs chemicals diseases compound
Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)
 
 
 
 
 

Long-term induction of a unique C1- current by endothelin-1 in an epithelial cell line from rat lung: evidence for regulation of cytoplasmic calcium.

1. Using conventional microelectrodes, the perforated patch clamp technique and fluorescence microscopy with fura-2, we investigated the relationship between the cell membrane potential, whole-cell currents and the free cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in response to 10 nM endothelin-1 (ET) in a rat respiratory epithelial cell line (L2). 2. Microelectrode experiments revealed that ET caused an immediate depolarization of the cell membrane potential (Vm) by 25 mV, which was unaffected by Na+ replacement with N-methyl-D-glucamine+ (NMDG+) or by omission of bath Ca2+. In contrast, ET depolarized the cells by 61 mV in the presence of low C1- (6 mM), resulting in a complete breakdown of Vm. 3. In perforated patch clamp experiments, the ET-induced whole-cell current (IET) exhibited a slight outward rectification with a reversal potential (Vrev) of -22.7 mV. IET was reduced by 85 % in low C1- (6 mM), but was unaffected by Ca2+ removal, Na+ replacement with NMDG+, pipette K+ replacement with Cs+ or 1 mM Ni2+ in the bath. 4. IET was unaffected by (+)-isradipine (100 nM), a specific L-type Ca2+ channel (L-VDCC) blocker. Transient inward Sr2+ currents through L-VDCCs were blocked by ET. 5. ET induced a biphasic Ca2+ signal, consisting of a 'peak' and a 'plateau' elevation of [Ca2+]i. Simultaneous patch clamp and fura-2 measurements revealed that IET coincided with intracellular Ca2+ release but clearly outlasted the elevation of [Ca2+]i. When the rise of [Ca2+]i was prevented by pretreatment with thapsigargin in a Ca2+-free bath, both activation time and amplitude of IET were reduced. Under these conditions, ET caused a decrease of [Ca2+]i. 6. The C1- channel blocker mefenamic acid (MFA) had a dual, concentration-dependent effect on both IET and the ET-induced 'plateau' elevation of [Ca2+]i: an increase at 10 microM, but an almost complete block at 100 microM. The effect of MFA on IET preceded the effect on [Ca2+]i. 7. The ET-induced 'plateau' [Ca2+]i fell below control values in a low-C1- (6 mM) solution. 8. These data indicate an amplifying function of intracellular Ca2+ release on an otherwise Ca2+-independent, unique C1- current by ET. Moreover, this C1- current appears to be functionally coupled with dihydropyridine (DHP)-insensitive Ca2+ entry, suggesting a modulatory role for long-lasting effects of ET.[1]

References

 
WikiGenes - Universities