[Interaction of melittin with ion channels of excitable membranes].

The effect of the neurotoxin melittin on the activation of ion channels of excitable membrane, the plasmalemma of Characeae algae cells, isolated membrane patches of neurons of mollusc L. stagnalis and Vero cells was studied by the method of intracellular perfusion and the patch-clamp technique in inside-out configuration. It was shown that melittin disturbs the conductivity of plasmalemma and modifieds Ca(2+)-channels of plant membrane. The leakage current that appears by the action of melittin can be restored by substituting calmodulin for melittin. Melittin modifies K(+)-channels of animal cell membrane by disrupting the phospholipid matrix and forms conductive structures in the membrane by interacting with channel proteins, which is evidenced by the appearance of additional ion channels.

[The mechanism of antiarrhythmic action of a new ammonium derivative of lidocaine (LKhT-12-02)].

The results of electrophysiological investigation of the effects of LKhT-12-02 (a quaternary ammonium derivative of lidocaine) on the intact cat heart and the isolated ion channels of Lymnaea stagnalis snail showed that this compound belongs to class 1B antiarrhythmic agents (Vaughan - Williams classification). The drug does not suppress the automatic nonmonotonic rhythm driver, does not influence the conductance in ventricles, auricles, and atrioventricular node in the sinus rhythm, and does not elongate the effective refractory period of the auricles and atrioventricular node. LKhT-12-02 decreases the rate of fast depolarization of the action potential, while not reducing its duration. The compound does not influence the conduction of sodium ion channels.

Membrane mechanisms of antiarrhythmic effect of quaternidine.

Complex electrophysiological study of the effects of quaternidine carried out on intact hearts from cats, myocardial fragments from rats, and single ionic channels of large edible snail showed that quaternidine demonstrates properties of class 1B antiarrhythmic drug according to Vaughan-Williams nomenclature. This agent did not suppress nomotopic pacemaker automaticity, did not change conduction in ventricles, atria, and atrioventricular junction in hearts with preserved sinus rhythm, did not prolong refractoriness of the atria and atrioventricular junction, but prolonged efficient refractory period of heart ventricles. Quaternidine decelerated rapid depolarization of the action potential, but had no effect on its duration. It did not affect potassium conductance.

[Calculation of local Hurst exponents in the Ca(2+)-activated K(+)-channel dwell time]. / Raschet lokal'nykh pokazatelei Khersta v posledovatel'nostiakh vremen zhizni Ca(2+)-aktiviruemykh K(+)-kanalov.

A novel method based on the maximum overlap wavelet transform of dwell time series is proposed. Information on local multifractal properties of the series, namely local Hurst exponents or Holder exponents, was obtained. The results confirm the presence of multifractality and intrinsic correlations in the Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel dwell time series. The data on the local multifractal structure of the series can be interpreted in terms of processes having self-organized criticality. The proposed approach allows one to widen the store of methods for the analysis of single ion channel activity.

[Fractal properies of gating in potential-dependent K+-channels in Lymnaea stagnalis neurons]. / Fraktal'nye svoistva vorotnogo mekhanizma potentsialozavisimykh K+ - kanalov v neironakh Lymnaea stagnalis.

Sets of the channel open times, [tau(o)], and closed times, [tau(c)], and the full set of the channel open and closed times, [tau(o), tau(c)], in the activity of single voltage-dependent K+-channels in mollusc L. stagnalis neurons were analyzed using the rescaled range analysis (Hurst method), fast Fourier and wavelet transforms. It was found that the Hurst dependence for each time series could be approximated by a polygonal line with at least two slopes: H1 and H2 (Hurst exponents). The averaged values of H1 and H2 for the sets [tau(o), tau(c)] were equal to 0.61 +/- 0.03 and 0.83 +/- 0.11, respectively; for the [tau(o)] sets H1 = 0.66 +/- 0.03 and H2 = 0.95 +/- 0.10; for the [tau(c)] sets, H1 = 0.62 +/- 0.05 and H2 = 0.85 +/- 0.10. In some cases, a third slope appeared on the Hurst dependences. It was very variable and ranged between 0.5 and 1. The Hurst exponents H1, H2, and H3 characterized short, intermediate, and long time ranges, respectively. The ranges greatly varied from experiment to experiment. The data obtained show that the channel openings and closings (gating process) represent a persistent process correlated in time. The randomization of the time sets resulted in a single slope, H, of 0.52 +/- 0.02 characteristic of random processes. The results were confirmed by the fast Fourier and wavelet transforms. In addition, possible voltage dependences of Hurst exponents and their correlation with tau(o) and tau(c) were investigated. As a whole, single channel activity may be characterized as a multifractal process with a slight voltage dependence of the Hurst exponents.

[Study of fractal properties of single ionic channel gating mechanism by the fast Fourier transform]. / Issledovanie fraktal'nykh svoistv "vorotnogo" mekhanizma odinochnykh ionnykh kanalov metodom bystrogo Fur'e-preobrazovaniia.

Sets of the channel open times (tau o), closed times (tau c) and the full set of the channel open and closed times (tau o, tau c) in the activity of single Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in cultured kidney cells Vero were analyzed using the fast Fourier transform. It was found that in the low-frequency range (about 0.01-10 Hz), power density can be described by the equation S(f) approximately f-alpha (as a rule, 0 < alpha < 1), and this part of the Fourier spectrum usually consists of narrow peaks at almost multiple frequencies. It was shown that the upper frequency boundary of this spectrum is determined by the kinetic parameters tau o [symbol: see text] tau c. The data obtained show that ion channel gating is a fractal process (correlated in time) and can be regarded as a random signal modulated by some periodical functions (sinuses). The data obtained by the Fourier method are in agreement with the earlier results obtained using the rescaled-range analysis.

Dose-dependent potentiation and inhibition of single Ca2+-activated K+ channels by flufenamic acid.

Using the patch-clamp technique in an inside-out configuration, we studied the action of an antiinflammatory drug, flufenamic acid (FFA), on single large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels in cultured Vero kidney cells. Depending on its concentration, FFA caused either potentiation or inhibition of K(Ca) channel activity of the same channel. Within the concentration ranges of about 5 to 10 microM and of 50 to 500 microM, FFA increased the channel activity; and within the intermediate range of about 10 to 50 microM, FFA inhibited the channels. The effects were only partially reversible. The activating phases were accompanied by an increase in the channel open time and decreases in the channel closed time and slope factor of the Ca2+ concentration-response curve. An apparent dissociation constant of Ca2+ interaction with the channel changed slightly. Possible mechanisms of the FFA effects are discussed.

[The independence of the family Channaculinidae (Crustacea: Copepoda: Cyclopoida)]. / O samostoiatel'nosti semeistva Channaculinidae (Crustacea: Copepoda: Cyclopoida).

New family name Pillainidae Kazatchenko fam. nov. is suggested instead of family name Channaculinidae. The keys of the families and genera of fish parasitic copepods of suborder Cyclopoida are given.

Refined equation for description of the influence of intracellular Mg2+ on the activity of single Ca2+-activated K+ channels in Vero kidney cells.

A refined empirical equation relating the mean value of the logarithm of the apparent dissociation constant (K0.5) to intracellular Mg2+ concentration is given. The equation is derived based on a more precise adjustment of analytical expressions to experimental data.

Non-markovian gating of ca(2+)-activated k(+) channels in cultured kidney cells vero. Rescaled range analysis.

Using the patch-voltage clamp technique and the rescaled range method, activity of single large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (K(Ca) channels) was studied. For the sequences of alternating open and shut time intervals, the dependence R/S vs. N(τ) in the double logarithmic coordinates presented a curve with two slopes, H(1) =0.60 ± 0.04, and H(2) = 0.88 ± 0.21, where H(1) and H(2) characterized the Hurst exponents for shot and long time ranges, respectively. Similar results were obtained for reduced data sets consisting of only open or only shut intervals. Randomization of the experimental data resulted in a single slope, H, of 0.52 ± 0.02. Simulations were performed with eight-state Markovian model without memory. The calculated Hurst exponent presented in average 0.54 ± 0.02. The results suggest that the activity of single Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel exhibits two regimes, with slight positive correlation at short time ranges (H(1) =0.6), and strong positive correlation at long time ranges (H(2) = 0.88); therefore the channel gating as a whole is not a steady-state Markovian process.

Modulation of the activity of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels by internal Mg2+ in cultured kidney cells vero.

The inside-out mode of the patch-clamp method was used to study the effects of internal Mg2+ on single large-conductance (193+/-7 pS) Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in cultured kidney cells. In the absence of Ca2+, Mg2+ (1 to 10 mM) did not activate the channels but modified the activating effect of Ca2+ ions: it decreased the Hill coefficient (n), reduced the apparent dissociation constant (K0.5), and modified the channel open and closed times. K0.5 was found to be a voltage-dependent parameter. In the absence of Mg2+, it averaged 600 microM at -20 mV and 27 microM at +30 mV (22 degrees C, pH 6.8). Mg2+ at saturating concentrations (5 to 10 mM) decreased K0.5 to 50 microM at -20 mV and to 15 microM at +30 mV. Irrespective of the membrane potential, K0.5 tended to its limit value of about 12.6 microM. Thus, the effects of membrane depolarization and Mg2+ exhibited a non-additive, competitive relationship. Mg2+ perturbed the exponential shape of the voltage dependences of K0.5. The Hill coefficient characterizing the interaction of Ca2+ ions with the channels was found to be voltage-dependent. In the absence of Mg2+, it increased rather sharply from approx. 2 to 3.5 when the membrane potential was raised from -10 to 0 mV. Mg2+ increased n in a dose-dependent manner; however, about a twofold increase of n occurred within a narrow concentration range (2 to 3 mM). The action of Mg2+ on n was, apparently, voltage-independent, and the effects of Mg2+ and voltage on n were seemingly additive.

[Single Ca2+-activated K+-channels in cultured kidney cells Vero]. / Odinochnye Ca2+-aktiviruemye K+-kanaly v kul'tiviruemykh pochechnykh kletkakh Vero.

Using the patch voltage-clamp method ("inside-out" mode) properties of single Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in cultured kidney cell Vero were studied. Two types of kinetically distinct channels (fast and slow) were found. The fast and slow channels differ by single channel conductance, kinetic parameters, characteristics of interaction with Ca2+, and voltage dependency degree of the kinetics parameters, but are similar in ionic selectivity in respect to monovalent cations. It was found that the channel conductance varies from patch to patch between 140 and 230 pS. Average values of single channel open duration and an apparent dissociation constant were correlated with the single channel conductance. The relationship was found: the more the conductance the lesser the open time duration and more the dissociation constant. The data suggest that there is almost continuous spectrum of subtypes of the Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels, the fast and slow channels being extreme groups of this spectrum. The data are regarded from the viewpoint of the clustery hypothesis.

Preliminary microwave irradiation of water solutions changes their channel-modifying activity.

Earlier we have shown that millimetre microwaves (42.25 GHz) of non-thermal power, upon direct admittance into an experiment bath, greatly influence activation characteristics of single Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channels (in particular, the channel open state probability, Po). Here we present new data showing that similar changes in Po arise due to the substitution of a control bath solution for a preliminary microwave irradiated one of the same composition (100 mmol/l KCl with Ca2+ added), with irradiation time being 20-30 min. Therefore, due to the exposure to the field the solution acquires some new properties that are important for the channel activity. The irradiation terminated, the solution retains a new state for at least 10-20 min (solution memory). The data suggest that the effects of the field on the channels are mediated, at least partially, by changes in the solution properties.

Dual effects of microwaves on single Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in cultured kidney cells Vero.

Using the patch voltage-clamp method, possible effects of millimetre microwaves (42.25 GHz) on single Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in cultured kidney cells (Vero) were investigated. It was found that exposure to the field of non-thermal power (about 100 microW/cm2) for 20-30 min greatly modifies both the Hill coefficient and an apparent affinity of the channels for Ca2+(i). The data suggest that the field alters both cooperativity and binding characteristics of the channel activation by internal Ca2+. The effects depend on initial sensitivity of the channels to Ca2+ and the Ca2+ concentration applied.

[Temperature dependence of kinetic parameters of single potential dependent K+ channels in mollusc neurons. Similarity in the action of potential and temperature]. / Temperaturnye zavisimosti kineticheskikh parametrov odnochnykh potentsialozavisimykh K+-kanalov v neironakh molliuska. Skhodstvo v deistvo v deistvii potentsiala i temperatury.

Using the patch-voltage-clamp method on excised membrane fragments from molluscan neurones temperature dependences of kinetic parameters of the fast and slow K(+)-channels were investigated in the temperature range 1 to 40 degrees C. Temperature dependences of probability of the channel open state (P0) for the slow and fast K(+)-channels are, generally, opposite, that is P0 increases for the slow channel and decreases for the fast channel with temperature. Similar dependences characterize durations of single channel open intervals (tau 0) and burst durations (t(p)). Durations of interburst and interpulse intervals (respectively, t(i) and tau) decrease for the slow channel and increase, in contrast, for the fast channel with temperature. For the channels of both types temperature dependences of P0 (as for other parameters) are essentially nonmonotonous. There are two local extrema, at least: for the slow K(+)-channel-maximum at 15 degrees C (minimum for the fast channel) and minimum at 20-25 degrees C (maximum for the fast channel). In some cases the number of local extrema may be greater than two. Some similarity in the action of temperature and membrane potential on the kinetic parameters was observed. For the slow K(+)-channel P0, tau 0 and t p increase with temperature and membrane potential. For the fast channel these parameters decrease at the same conditions. Moreover, for the channels of both types temperature dependences of the kinetic parameters are slightly pronounced at the potentials where potential dependences of the parameters are least. As a whole, temperature measurements showed that there are, possibly, several points of structural transitions (similar to phase transitions) in the temperature range 0 to 40 degrees C. Primarily, the kinetic parameters are determined by these transitions.

[Temperature dependence of the conductivity of individual potential-dependent K+-channels in mollusk neurons]. / Temperaturnye zavisimosti provodimosti odinochnykh potentsialozavisimykh K+-kanalov v neironakh molliuska.

Using the patch-clamp method temperature dependences of the chord conductance of single potential--dependent slow and fast K+ channels in mollusk neurons were studied. Under control conditions (20 degrees C, 0 mV, [K+]o = 1.5 mM and [K+]i = 100 mM) the conductances of the fast and slow K+ channels were equal to 20-25 pS and 30-40 pS, respectively. Besides, the temperature dependences of the currents through the K+ channels of lesser conductance (5-20 pS) were studied. Some of these channels may be regarded as subtypes of the fast and slow K+ channels named above. It was found that for the channels of all types single channel currents arise with temperature. However, in the range of 10-20 degrees C an anomalous conductance decrease at temperature elevation was observed. For all channels except for the fast one at temperatures above 20 degrees C activation energy (delta Ea) calculated from the Arrhenius plots of the currents was about 4 kcal/mol. At the temperatures below 10 degrees C delta Ea was equal to about 12 kcal/mol. In this temperature range delta Ea had a pronounced potential dependency. Temperature dependences of the fast K+ channel conductance were opposite to those of the slow K+ channel to some extent.

Classification of a body form of parasitic copepods.

The following classification of body form typical for parasitic copepods which could be useful when compiling the determinants describing supraspecific taxon was proposed. The cyclopoid body form for the families Bomolochidae, Taeniacanthidae, Ergasilidae, Myicolidae, Tegabomolochidae, Telsidae and Grandiunguidae; caligoid body form for Caligidae, Pandaridae, Euryphoridae, Cecropidae, Scienophilidae, Trebiidae and Dissonidae; eudactyloid body form for Eudactylinidae, Hatschekiidae and Pseudocynidae; the chondracanthoid body form for Hyponeoidae, Shiinoidae, Pharoidae and some Chondracanthidae; the lernanthropoid body form for Lernanthropidae and Anthosomatidae; the lernaeopodidoid body form for Lernaeopodidae and Naobranchiidae; the sphyriioid body form for Sphyriidae, Lernaeidae, Pennellidae and some Chondracanthidae; the philichthyioid body form for Philichthyidae are discussed.

[Cooperative phenomena in the activity of single ion channels]. / Kooperativnye iavleniia v aktivnosti odinochnykh ionnykh kanalov.

Using the patch-voltage-clamp method kinetics of the fast potential-dependent K+-channels in molluscan neurones was investigated. It was found that under given experimental conditions the amplitudes of single current impulses have a wide spectrum. The amplitudes are proportional to a number of the current substates involved. Averaged fronts of the current impulses are S-shaped, and have duration greater than 1 ms. Averaged duration of the current impulses increases (from 0.25 to 30-40 ms) with the impulse amplitude (or with the number of the substates involved). There is a sharp bend of the dependence at the impulse amplitude 0.6-0.7 of maximal value. The phenomena investigated reflect, probably, cooperativity of the channel transitions between the substates. The degree of the cooperativity depends on the membrane potential value.

Single potential-dependent K+ channels and their oligomers in molluscan glial cells.

Single K+ channels were studied using the patch-clamp method. A potential-dependent K+ channel of large conductance (about 100 pS at 100 mM of KCl on both membrane sides) was detected. Some properties of the channel (current-voltage relations, kinetic parameters, etc.) are presented. The channel was found to have about 16 resolvable quantized conductance substates. The data are confirmed by spontaneous channel degradation, i.e., spontaneous splitting of the channel conductance into independent conductance oligomers. Some properties of the conductance oligomers of different order are described. The degree of potential dependency of the conductance oligomer parameters is a function of potential dependency. The data obtained are in agreement with a hypothesis that the channels studied are clusters (aggregates) of elementary channel subunits.