Current recordings of ion channel proteins immobilized on resin beads

Anal Chem. 2009 Apr 15;81(8):3151-4. doi: 10.1021/ac900286z.

Abstract

Current ion channel current measurement techniques are cumbersome, as they require many steps and much time. This is especially true when reconstituting channels into liposomes and incorporating them into lipid bilayers. Here, we report a novel method that measures ion channel current more efficiently than current methods. We applied our method to KcsA and MthK channels by binding them to cobalt affinity gel beads with histidine tags and then forming a lipid bilayer membrane on the bead. This allowed channels to incorporate into the bilayer and channel currents to be measured quickly and easily. The efficiency was such that currents could be recorded with extremely low amounts of protein. In addition, the channel direction could be determined by the histidine tag. This method has the potential to be applied to various channel proteins and channel research in general.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Electric Conductivity*
  • Immobilized Proteins / chemistry*
  • Immobilized Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ion Channels / chemistry*
  • Ion Channels / metabolism*
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism
  • Liposomes / metabolism
  • Microspheres*
  • Potassium Channels / chemistry
  • Potassium Channels / metabolism

Substances

  • Immobilized Proteins
  • Ion Channels
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Liposomes
  • Potassium Channels