Calcium-activated chloride channels in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

1. We characterized Ca(2+)-activated Cl- currents in calf pulmonary artery endothelial (CPAE) cells by using a combined patch clamp and fura-2 microfluorescence technique to simultaneously measure ionic currents and the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i. 2.

Membrane currents and the resting membrane potential in cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

1. We have used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to characterize the ionic conductances that determine the resting membrane potential in cultured endothelial cells from calf pulmonary artery (CPAE cells). 2.

Volume-activated Cl- channels.

1. An increase in cell volume activates, in most mammalian cells, a Cl- current, ICl,vol. This current is involved in a variety of cellular functions, such as the maintenance of a constant cell volume, pH regulation, and control of membrane potential.

The chloride current induced by expression of the protein pICln in Xenopus oocytes differs from the endogenous volume-sensitive chloride current.

1. Phenotypical similarities between ICl,swell, the cell-swelling-induced chloride current and ICln, the nucleotide-sensitive chloride current induced by expression of mammalian pICln in Xenopus oocytes, have led to models which identify pICln either as the volume-sensitive chloride channel or as a cytosolic regulator thereof. 2.

Potent block of volume-activated chloride currents in endothelial cells by the uncharged form of quinine and quinidine.

1. The effects of quinine and quinidine on the volume-activated chloride current (ICl(vol)) in cultured endothelial cells from bovine pulmonary artery were studied by use of the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. 2.

Blockers of volume-activated Cl- currents inhibit endothelial cell proliferation.

Volume-activated Cl- currents (ICl,vol) and cell growth have been measured in cultured endothelial cells from bovine pulmonary artery (CPAE) in the absence and presence of compounds which block these currents. The anti-oestrogen drug tamoxifen, which efficiently arrests the growth of breast cancer cells (1), inhibits both ICl,vol and cell proliferation with IC50 of 3.8 and 4.

The nodS gene of Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT899 is necessary for nodulation on Phaseolus vulgaris and on Leucaena leucocephala.

Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT899 induces nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of a wide range of tropical legumes, including Phaseolus vulgaris and Leucaena leucocephala. Previously, a DNA region of the CIAT899 pSym plasmid containing the common nodulation genes nodABC and one of the nodD alleles was characterized (P. van Rhijn, B.