ON CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF CALCIUM CHANNELS IN CHARECEAN ALGA CELLS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 25  (3) , 537-542
Abstract
Chemical composition and MW of the channel-forming complex were determined by fractionating the cell homogenate supernatant by chromatography, gel-electrophoresis and using dissociating and denaturating agents. Availability of channel-forming complexes in individual fractions was judged from reconstruction of channels in bimolecular lipid membrane (BLM). Ca-channels reconstructed in BLM were formed by molecules of a protein nature (peptides). Their MW was no more than 20,000. High stability of spacial organization of channel-forming molecules was observed. Channel subunits aggregated without any change in properties of the selective filter. Thermodynamically preferred aggregates had conductivity of 200 pmho in 0.1 M KCl and seemed to consist of 80 channel subunits which were switched off and on simultaneously.