CFTR, a rectifying, non-rectifying anion channel?

CFTR, a rectifying, non-rectifying anion channel?

Developmental regulation of a novel outwardly rectifying mechanosensitive anion channel in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans offers unique experimental advantages for defining the molecular basis of anion channel function and regulation. However, the relative inaccessibility of somatic cells in adult animals greatly limits direct electrophysiological studies of channel activity. We developed methods to routinely isolate and patch clamp C. elegans embryo cells and oocytes and to cul...

KirBac1.1: It's an Inward Rectifying Potassium Channel

KirBac1.1 is a prokaryotic homologue of eukaryotic inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channels. The crystal structure of KirBac1.1 and related KirBac3.1 have now been used extensively to generate in silico models of eukaryotic Kir channels, but functional analysis has been limited to (86)Rb(+) flux experiments and bacteria or yeast complementation screens, and no voltage clamp analysis has been a...

Rectifying Images

Perspective: Molecular Identity of the Outwardly Rectifying, Swelling-activated Anion Channel: Time to Reevaluate pICln

Cells respond to swelling by activating anion and cation channels that allow the passive loss of inorganic ions and organic solutes. Net solute efflux accompanied by osmotically obliged water functions to return cell volume towards its original value, a process termed regulatory volume decrease. An apparently ubiquitous response to swelling in vertebrate cells is activation of an outwardly rect...