The Chiptip: a novel tool for automated patch clamp.

To facilitate automated patch clamp measurements of ion channels in cells, the development of an all-glass Chiptip pipette is reported that may be combined with the previously described Flip-the-Tip technology. A single measurement requires less than 50 cells, and the addition of drugs for screening can be limited to very low volumes down to 1 microL. This apparatus is suitable for the study small cells, subcellular organelles and bacteria.

Differential effects of N-glycans on surface expression suggest structural differences between the acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) 1a and ASIC1b.

ASICs (acid-sensing ion channels) are H(+)-gated Na(+) channels with a widespread expression pattern in the central and the peripheral nervous system. ASICs have a simple topology with two transmembrane domains, cytoplasmic termini and a large ectodomain between the transmembrane domains; this topology has been confirmed by the crystal structure of chicken ASIC1. ASIC1a and ASIC1b are two variants encoded by the asic1 gene.

A peptide-gated ion channel from the freshwater polyp Hydra.

Chemical transmitters are either low molecular weight molecules or neuropeptides. As a general rule, neuropeptides activate only slow metabotropic receptors. To date, only one exception to this rule is known, the FMRFamide-activated Na(+) channel (FaNaC) from snails.