Fig. 1

Unitary conductance, voltage, and heat sensitivity of mechano-gated K+ channels in cell-attached patches of adult zebrafish skeletal muscle fibers. (A) Activation of single-channel outward currents at 0 mV in response to negative pressure applied in the patch pipette. (B) Increase in channel opening in response to increasing negative pressures in a same patch held at 0 mV (Left). Relationship between the mean relative channel activity and negative pressure applied in the pipette in patches held at 0 mV (n = 7). (C) Single-channel currents through mechano-gated channels at the indicated membrane potentials (Upper) and relationship between mean unitary current amplitudes and membrane potential (Lower) in the presence of 5 mM K+ in the pipette. (D) Same as in C but in the presence of 140 mM K+ in the pipette. (E) Relationship between the mean relative channel activity and membrane potential with continuous application of −4 kPa in the pipette. (F) Increase in channel activity in response to exchange of a 20 °C to a 37 °C external solution.