What Ion Flow along Ion Channels Can Tell us about Their Functional Activity.

摘要: The functional activity of channel-forming peptides and proteins is most directly verified by monitoring the flow physiologically relevant inorganic ions, such as Na+, K+ Cl−, along ion channels. Electrical current measurements across bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) interposed between two aqueous solutions have been widely employed to this end are still extensively used. However, a major drawback BLMs their fragility, high sensitivity toward vibrations mechanical shocks, low resistance electric fields. To overcome problem, metal-supported tethered (tBLMs) devised, where BLM anchored metal via hydrophilic spacer that replaces mimics water phase on side. only mercury-supported tBLMs can measure regulate above thanks mercury liquid state hydrogen overpotential. This review summarizes main results achieved incorporating voltage-gated peptides, interpreting them basis kinetic mechanism nucleation growth. Hg-supported then described, potential for investigation ohmic channels illustrated use different electrochemical techniques.