Advanced patch-clamp techniques and single-channel analysis

ive and are unsuitable for impaling electrodes. Methods for modelling the kinetics and permeation of Much of our knowledge of ion-transport mechanisms ion channels using single-channel recordings are prein plant cell membranes comes from experiments sented. How the ionic currents underlying an action using voltage-clamp. This technique allows the measpotential (AP) can be identified using the AP-clamp urement of ionic currents across the membrane, whilst method is discussed. Finally, the use of the patchthe voltage is held under experimental control. The clamp technique to investigate endocytotic and exocypatch-clamp technique was developed to study the totic processes through measurements of capacitance ionic currents flowing through single channels, but in is described. The advanced patch-clamp techniques its whole-cell configuration it is probably the most presented in this article have the potential to broaden widely used voltage-clamp technique. This article the horizons of plant cell electrophysiology and it is provides a basic introduction to several advanced expected that many will become the standard laboratpatch-clamp techniques, and evaluates methods for ory techniques of the future. single-channel analysis. The initial sections describe the fabrication and use of perfusion pipettes, which